Fastener handling devices for fastener setting machines, and related methods

ABSTRACT

An in-line fastener track selection device comprises a stator having first, second and third fastener conduits; a rotor, rotatably mounted with respect the stator about a rotation axis, and comprising a rotor body and a connection space. The rotor is rotatable between a first position in which the connection space adjoins the first and second fastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass between the first and second fastener conduits via the connection space, and a second position in which the connection space adjoins the first and third fastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass between the first and third fastener conduits via the connection space.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/770,096, which is a U.S. National phaseapplication of International Application No. PCT/GB2018/053527 filedDec. 5, 2018, which claims priority to Application No. GB 1720248.2filed Dec. 5, 2017, the entire contents of all of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

The parent application (U.S. application Ser. No. 16/770,096), entitledFastener handling devices for Fastener Setting Machines, and relatedMethods, relates to a fastener track selection device, a fastenerselection device, a fastener setting machine and associated methods. Anapplication (GB1720275.5) having the attorney reference PM345179 GB andentitled Fastener Magazines and Related Supply Systems and Methods hasthe same filing date as the parent application and was also filed by theapplicant in the UK. Likewise, an application (GB1720277.1) having theattorney reference PM345687 GB and entitled Nose Arrangements forFastener Setting Machines and Related Methods has the same filing dateas the parent application and was also filed by the applicant in the UK.Both PM345179 GB and PM345687 GB relate to fastener setting machines andassociated methods of the same general type of that of the presentinvention. The content of PM345179 GB and PM345687 GB are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to fastener handling devices forhandling fasteners for setting by a fastener setting machine, and torelated methods. In particular, the present application relates to rivethandling devices for handling rivets for setting by a rivet settingmachine, and to related methods. In particular, the rivets may beself-piercing rivets. In addition, this application relates to fastenerhandling devices incorporated into fastener magazines for storingfasteners, which may be rivets or self-piercing rivets. The rivethandling devices include in-line fastener track selection devices andin-line fastener selection devices.

Various systems and methods for setting fasteners are known which use abulk-supply apparatus to supply the fasteners to a setting tool. In somesystems, the setting tool comprises a nose and a punch for setting thefasteners. The setting tool may be mounted on a support structure suchas a C-frame. The C-frame may be mounted on a robotic arm such that alarge number of automatic operations per unit time may be accuratelycarried out by the robot.

Known bulk-supply apparatus includes flexible delivery tubes connectedto one or more magazines which locally store a large number offasteners; often of different shapes and sizes. The magazines may beremovable. The fasteners may be supplied to the setting tool via thedelivery tubes singularly, or in groups, and are typically supplied fromthe magazines ‘on demand’, i.e. when a specific type of fastener isrequired for fastening a workpiece of a given type.

The nose is generally disposed under the punch, and guides the punch andthe fasteners during a setting operation. A die may be provided on thesupport structure, opposite the nose, to react the force applied by thepunch of the setting tool to the fastener and workpiece during a settingoperation. In this way, the workpiece is sandwiched between the nose andthe die during a setting operation, and the punch is operated to set thefastener.

Systems of the type described above typically feed the fasteners to thenose through suitably profiled flexible delivery tubes which form partof a supply line. The fasteners may be delivered to the setting toolalong the supply line through the use of compressed air and/or gravity.Further, supply of the fasteners to the setting tool generally alsorequires the presence of one or more fastener handling devices along thesupply line. These handling devices will generally effect some form ofmanagement of the movement of one or more fasteners along the supplyline.

Known handling devices may perform one or more operations to start,stop, trap, rotate, translate and/or transfer a fastener so that therequired fastener is made available from the relevant fastener storagelocation to the setting tool for the relevant setting operation. Byperforming one or more of the above operations, the fastener handlingapparatus can separate, hold, release and/or single out one or morefasteners at different stages along the rivet supply line. Ultimately,the required fastener reaches a fastener transfer area located in oradjacent the nose, whence the fastener is transferred to a standbyposition under the punch, in preparation for the setting operation.

There are several problems associated with the above known fastenerhandling devices. The fasteners, for example, may jam, tumble or becomeotherwise dislodged. Further, existing selection mechanisms may be ableto handle only a single type of fasteners, or very limited differentshapes and/or sizes thereof. Further still, the existing fastenerhandling devices may be too complex and thus demand high maintenance,repair, manufacture and/or replacement costs. As such, existing fastenerhandling devices may not be suitable for incorporation into rivetmagazines, and particularly removable or replaceable rivet magazines.

It is therefore desirable to improve the design of the existing fastenerhandling devices. In particular, it is desirable to provide handlingdevices which can be satisfactorily incorporated into removablemagazines for supplying fasteners, including fasteners of differenttype, size and or shape, particularly to a robot-mounted fastenersettling tool.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is providedan in-line fastener track selection device comprising: a stator havingfirst, second and third fastener conduits; a rotor, rotatably mountedwith respect the stator about a rotation axis, and comprising a rotorbody and a connection space; the rotor being rotatable between a firstposition in which the connection space adjoins the first and secondfastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass between thefirst and second fastener conduits via the connection space, and asecond position in which the connection space adjoins the first andthird fastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass betweenthe first and third fastener conduits via the connection space.

In the first position, the rotor body may block the third fastenerconduit such that, in use, a fastener cannot pass between the thirdfastener conduit and the first fastener conduit. In the second position,the rotor body may block the second fastener conduit such that, in use,a fastener cannot pass between the second fastener conduit and the firstfastener conduit.

The connection space may be sized so as to, in use, accommodate aplurality of fasteners.

The connection space may be defined by a connection conduit. Theconnection conduit may be defined between a plurality of walls.

The connection conduit may be curved.

The first and second fastener conduits may be angularly spaced from oneanother about the rotation axis by about 135°. The first and thirdfastener conduits may be angularly spaced from one another about therotation axis by about 135°. In other embodiments the first, second andthird conduits may be spaced by any appropriate angular amount.

The connection conduit may comprise first and second ends, and the firstand second ends may be angularly spaced from one another about therotation axis by about 135°. Again, in other embodiments any appropriateangular spacing may be utilised.

The fastener track selection device may further comprise an actuatorconfigured to rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

The actuator may be a rotary actuator or a linear actuator.

The actuator may be configured to rotate the rotor in a first directionto move the rotor from the first position to the second position. Theactuator may further be configured to rotate the rotor in said firstdirection to move the rotor from the second position to the firstposition.

The rotor body may be generally disk-shaped.

The fastener track selection device may further comprise a biasing meansconfigured to urge the rotor towards the stator in a direction generallyparallel to the rotation axis.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided afastener setting machine comprising a fastener track selection deviceaccording to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the second andthird fastener conduits are configured to be supplied with fastenersfrom first and second upstream fastener sources, respectively, andwherein the first fastener conduit is configured to supply fasteners toa downstream fastener consumer.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided afastener setting machine comprising a fastener track selection deviceaccording to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the second andthird fastener conduits are configured to be supply fasteners to atleast one downstream fastener consumer, and wherein the first fastenerconduit is configured to receive fasteners from an upstream fastenersource.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided afastener magazine comprising a fastener track selection device accordingto the first aspect of the invention. The fastener magazine may be aremovable fastener magazine.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof selecting fasteners using an in-line fastener track selection devicecomprising: a stator having first, second and third fastener conduits; arotor, rotatably mounted with respect the stator about a rotation axis,and comprising a rotor body and a connection space; the methodcomprising, rotating the rotor between a first position and a secondposition; wherein in the first position the connection space adjoins thefirst and second fastener conduits, such that a fastener may passbetween the first and second fastener conduits via the connection space,and wherein in the second position the connection space adjoins thefirst and third fastener conduits, such that a fastener may pass betweenthe first and third fastener conduits via the connection space.

The method may further comprise moving a fastener between the first andsecond fastener conduits via the connection space and/or moving afastener between the first and third fastener conduits via theconnection space, using pressurised gas or a vacuum supplied to one ormore of the first, second and third conduits. The pressurised gas orvacuum may be maintained whilst the rotor is rotated between the firstposition and the second position.

Maintaining the pressurised gas or vacuum may reduce the complexity ofthe operation and/or reduce turbulent flow in the conduits, therebyresulting in smoother movement of fasteners through the relevantconduits.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided anin-line fastener selection device comprising fastener conduit having afirst fastener conduit portion and a second fastener conduit portion,and an escapement mechanism located between the first and secondfastener conduit portions; wherein the escapement mechanism has: a firstconfiguration in which a first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is configured to block the passage of a leading fastener froma first section of the second fastener conduit portion to the firstfastener conduit portion; a second configuration in which the firstbarrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configured to permit thepassage of the leading fastener from the first section of the secondfastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, and asecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configured toblock the passage of a trailing fastener from a second section of thesecond fastener conduit portion to the first section of the secondfastener conduit portion; and a third configuration in which the secondbarrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configured to permit thepassage of the trailing fastener from the second section of the secondfastener conduit portion to the first section of the second fastenerconduit portion, and the first or second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to block the passage of the trailingfastener from the first section of the second fastener conduit portionto the first fastener conduit portion.

In embodiments in which in the third configuration the first barrierportion of the escapement mechanism is configured to block the passageof the trailing fastener from the first section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, the first andthird configuration may be the same—that is, within the claims, theterms third configuration and first configuration may beinterchangeable.

In the first configuration the first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism may be located in a first position and the second barrierportion of the escapement mechanism may be in a second position; and inthe second configuration the first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism may be in a third position, and the second barrier portion ofthe escapement mechanism is in a fourth position; and wherein the deviceis configured such that the first barrier portion is actuable from thefirst position to the third position coupled with the second barrierportion being actuated from the second position to the fourth position.

In the second configuration the first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism may be in a third position, and the second barrier portion ofthe escapement mechanism may be in a fourth position; and in the thirdconfiguration the second barrier portion of the escapement mechanism maybe configured to block the passage of the trailing fastener from thefirst section of the second fastener conduit portion to the firstfastener conduit portion, and the second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism may be in a fifth position, and the first barrierportion of the escapement mechanism may be in a sixth position, whereinthe device may be configured such that the first barrier portion isactuable from the third position to the sixth position coupled with thesecond barrier portion being actuated from the fourth position to thefifth position; or in the third configuration the first barrier portionof the escapement mechanism may be configured to block the passage ofthe trailing fastener from the first section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, and the secondbarrier portion of the escapement mechanism may be in the secondposition, and the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism maybe in the first position, wherein the device may be configured such thatthe first barrier portion is actuable from the third position to thefirst position coupled with the second barrier portion being actuatedfrom the fourth position to the second position.

The device may be configured such that the escapement mechanismoscillates between the second and third configurations.

The escapement mechanism may have a fourth configuration in which thefirst barrier portion and/or the second barrier portion may beconfigured to hold the leading fastener or trailing fastener within theescapement mechanism such that the leading fastener or trailing fasteneris not free to exit the escapement mechanism.

The fourth configuration may be between the first and secondconfigurations.

In use, the first and second barrier portions may be configured tocontact a head portion of the leading and trailing fasteners and/or thefirst and second barrier portions may be configured to contact a stemportion of the leading and trailing fasteners.

A rotor of the escapement mechanism may rotate about a rotation axis,relative to a stator, between the first and second configurations, andbetween the second and third configurations.

The rotor may comprise a base from which first and second pins extend ina direction generally parallel to the rotation axis; wherein the firstbarrier portion comprises the first pin and the second barrier portioncomprises the second pin.

The rotor may comprise a base from which a pawl extends in a directiongenerally parallel to the rotation axis; wherein the first barrierportion comprises a first end of the pawl and the second barrier portioncomprises a second end of the pawl.

The pawl may be generally arcuate in cross-section perpendicular to therotation axis.

The fastener selection device may further comprise an actuatorconfigured to rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

The actuator may be a rotary actuator or a linear actuator.

The escapement mechanism may translate between the first and secondconfigurations, and between the second and third configurations. Saidtranslation may be generally linear.

The escapement mechanism may comprise a barrier assembly comprising aprimary barrier and two secondary barrier members. The first barrierportion may comprise the primary barrier, and the second barrier portionmay comprise the secondary barrier members.

The primary barrier and secondary barrier members may be spaced alongthe direction of travel of fasteners along the conduit.

The secondary barrier members may be located either side of the fastenerconduit.

The secondary barrier members may be spaced by a distance which is lessthan a maximum width of a fastener carried by the fastener conduit. Themaximum width may be a diameter of a head portion of the fasteners.

The secondary barrier members may be spaced by a distance which isgreater than a minimum width of a fastener carried by the fastenerconduit. The minimum width may be a diameter of a stem portion of thefasteners.

When the escapement mechanism is in the second configuration, thesecondary barrier members may extend into the fastener conduit.

When the escapement mechanism is in the second configuration, thesecondary barrier members may be configured to trap the trailingfastener.

When the escapement mechanism is in the second configuration, thesecondary barrier members may be configured to form an obstacle in thepath of the trailing fastener.

The secondary barrier members may each include a recess, the recessbeing sized and positioned such that: in the third configuration of theescapement mechanism the recesses of both of the secondary barriermembers may define a space in the fastener conduit through which afastener can pass, such that the fastener can pass from the secondsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first section ofthe second fastener conduit portion; and in the second configuration ofthe escapement mechanism the recesses of both of the secondary barriermembers do not define a space in the fastener conduit through which afastener can pass, such that the fastener is prevented from passing fromthe second section of the second fastener conduit portion to the firstsection of the second fastener conduit portion.

The primary barrier and secondary barrier members may be mounted to anactuation base. This ensures that the primary barrier and secondarybarrier members move as one and can therefore, if desired, be actuatedby a single actuator.

When the escapement mechanism is in the first configuration, the primarybarrier may extend into the fastener conduit.

The secondary barrier members may be biased by a resilient biasingmember such that as the escapement mechanism moves from firstconfiguration to the second configuration (by the action of theactuator) the secondary barrier members move from a position in which afastener in the conduit may pass the secondary barrier members, to aposition in which the fastener is blocked from passing the secondarybarrier members. Movement of the escapement mechanism from the firstconfiguration to the second configuration may be movement of the primarybarrier from a position in which fasteners are prevented from passingthe primary barrier to a position in which said fasteners are permittedto pass the primary barrier.

The primary barrier may be biased by a resilient biasing member suchthat as the escapement mechanism moves from first configuration to thesecond configuration (by the action of the actuator) the primary barriermoves from a position in which a fastener in the conduit may not passthe primary barrier, to a position in which the fastener is permitted topass the primary barrier. Movement of the escapement mechanism from thefirst configuration to the second configuration may be movement of thesecondary barrier members from a position in which fasteners arepermitted to pass the secondary barrier members to a position in whichsaid fasteners are prevented from passing the secondary barrier members.

According to a seventh embodiment there is provided a fastener settingmachine comprising an in-line fastener selection device according to thesixth embodiment.

The in-line fastener selection device may be located at a nose portionof the fastener setting machine, such that the first fastener conduitportion is a standby position at which a fastener sits before it isstruck by a punch of the fastener setting machine, and such that thefirst section of the second fastener conduit portion is a fastenertransfer area, and the second section of the second fastener conduitportion is a fastener queuing area.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided afastener magazine comprising an in-line fastener selection deviceaccording to the sixth aspect of the invention. The fastener magazinemay be a removable fastener magazine.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof selecting a fastener using an in-line fastener selection devicecomprising fastener conduit having a first fastener conduit portion anda second fastener conduit portion, and an escapement mechanism locatedbetween the first and second fastener conduit portions, wherein themethod comprises: placing the escapement mechanism in a firstconfiguration in which a first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism blocks the passage of a leading fastener from a first sectionof the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduitportion; placing the escapement mechanism in a second configuration inwhich the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism permits thepassage of the leading fastener from the first section of the secondfastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, and asecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism blocks the passage ofa trailing fastener from a second section of the second fastener conduitportion to the first section of the second fastener conduit portion; andplacing the escapement mechanism in a third configuration in which thesecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism permits the passageof the trailing fastener from the second section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first section of the second fastener conduitportion, and the first or second barrier portion of the escapementmechanism blocks the passage of the trailing fastener from the firstsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastenerconduit portion.

The method may further comprise moving a fastener between the firstconduit portion and the second conduit portion via the escapementmechanism, using pressurised gas or a vacuum supplied to the first orsecond conduit portions. The pressurised gas or vacuum may be maintainedwhilst the escapement mechanism is moved between the first, second andthird configurations.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided afastener setting machine comprising a conduit along which fasteners areconfigured to travel, and an air amplifier located along the conduit,the air amplifier being configured to inject compressed air into theconduit via a nozzle so that the injected compressed air flows in adownstream direction towards a downstream portion of the conduit, saidcompressed air pulling air from an upstream portion of the conduit antowards said downstream portion, thereby propelling said fasteners alongthe conduit from the upstream portion of the conduit to the downstreamportion of the conduit.

The use of an air amplifier to propel fasteners along a conduit, such asa feed conduit, has several advantages. The use of an air amplifier ismore efficient (i.e. consumes less energy and air) as compared to knownmethods. In addition, using an air amplifier provides flexibility toposition the arrangement used to propel the fastener at any locationalong the conduit.

The conduit may have a generally T-shaped cross-section perpendicular tothe direction in which said fasteners are propelled along the conduit.

The fasteners may be rivets.

The nozzle may comprise a nozzle chamber which surrounds a portion ofthe conduit intermediate said upstream and downstream portions. Thenozzle chamber allows the compressed air which drives the air amplifierto be supplied to the nozzle whilst at the same time ensuring that asmuch air as possible can contact a fastener moving through the nozzlechamber to thereby propel it.

The air amplifier may include at least one guide member located in saidnozzle chamber, said at least one guide member may be shaped andpositioned so as to be configured to guide a fastener through the nozzlechamber from said upstream portion of the conduit to said downstreamportion of the conduit.

In this way the fastener can be guided through the air amplifier withoutthe air amplifier providing any kind of obstruction to the movement ofthe fasteners through to air amplifier.

Said at least one guide member may comprise a plurality of rails whichare configured to contact said fastener, in use, so as to guide saidfastener through the nozzle chamber from said upstream portion of theconduit to said downstream portion of the conduit.

First and second rails may be configured to contact a shoulder portionof said fasteners.

A magazine portion of the fastener setting device comprises saidupstream portion of the conduit, and wherein a nose portion of thefastener setting device comprises said downstream portion of theconduit.

The upstream portion of the conduit may be vented to atmosphere. Thisreduces the amount of sealing required for the fastener propellingarrangement to operate, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of anymachine of which the air amplifier forms part.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of manufacturing a product, the method comprising fasteningtogether two or more layers of a workpiece using a fastener settingmachine according to any of the second, third or seventh aspects of theinvention, a fastener magazine according to the fourth or eighth aspectsof the invention, or a method according to the fifth or ninth aspects ofthe invention.

The product may be a vehicle.

It will be appreciated that, where appropriate, any of the optionalfeatures discussed above in relation to one of the aspects of theinvention, may equally be applied to any of the other aspects of theinvention. The conduit may have a T-shaped cross section suitable forcarrying rivets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rivet handling devicecomprising a rivet track selection device and a rivet selection deviceaccording to embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2 to 6 show schematic cut-away and cross-sectional views of therivet handling device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of various configurations of an escapementmechanism of a rivet selection device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show schematic views of two pawl-type escapementmechanisms of rivet selection devices according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show schematic perspective and plan views of a portion ofa rivet handling device comprising a rivet track selection device andtwo rivet selection devices according to embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 11 to 15 show schematic views of a rivet selection device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 16 to 21 show schematic views of a portion of a rivet settingdevice including a rivet selection device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 shows a schematic view of a portion of a rivet setting deviceincluding two rivet selection devices in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 23 to 29 show schematic views of portions of a rivet selectiondevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 30 and 31 show schematic views of two different rivet magazinesaccording to embodiments of the present invention which include rivetselection devices and/or rivet track selection devices according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 32 shows a schematic view of a portion of a fastener settingmachine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 33 and 34 show schematic cross-sectional views of an air amplifierwhich forms part of a fastener setting machine according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 35 shows a rivet supported by rails which form part of an airamplifier which forms part of a fastener setting machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rivet handling device 10.The rivet handling device comprises an in-line rivet track selectiondevice 12 and an in-line rivet selection device 14. The rivet handlingdevice 10 is shown in isolation, but, in some embodiments, will formpart of a rivet setting device. The rivet handling device 10 includesfirst, second and third rivet conduits (16, 18, and 20 respectively). Ascan be seen most clearly in relation to the second and third rivetconduits 18, 20, the rivet conduits in the present embodiment all have agenerally T-shaped profile which generally corresponds to thecross-sectional shape of the rivets which are carried by the rivetconduit. Of course, in other embodiments, which may relate to differenttypes of fastener, the conduits may have any appropriate cross-sectionalshape.

FIG. 2 shows a further schematic view of the rivet handling device 10shown in FIG. 1 , with an upper portion of the device removed so as toshow the internal workings of the handling device 10.

The functioning of the in-line rivet track selection device 12 andin-line rivet selection device 14 of the rivet handling device 10 willnow be discussed separately.

The in-line rivet track selection device 12 comprises a main body 22which constitutes a stator. As previously discussed, the main body 22includes first, second and third rivet conduits 16, 18 and 20.

The rivet track selection device 12 further comprises a rotor 24rotatably mounted with respect to the stator 22 about a rotation axis A.The rotor 24 comprises a rotor body 26 and a connection space 28.

The rotor 24 is rotatable between a first position shown in FIG. 2 and asecond position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the first position theconnection space 28 joins the first and second rivet conduits 16, 18,such that, in use, a rivet may pass between the first and secondfastener conduits 16, 18 via the connection space 28. In the secondposition the connection space 28 adjoins the first and third rivetconduits 16, 20, such that, in use, a rivet may pass between the firstand third rivet conduits 16, 20 via the connection space 28.

In this way, the rivet track selection device is capable of selectingwhether a rivet can travel between the first and second fastenerconduits or between the first and third fastener conduits. As will bediscussed in more detail later, this may be of use when it is desirableto supply a rivet from a single rivet supply location to two downstreamrivet consumers, or to supply rivets from two different rivet supplylocations to a single downstream rivet consumer.

In the first position, the rotor body 26 blocks the third rivet conduit20 such that, in use, a fastener cannot pass between the third fastenerconduit 20 and the first fastener conduit 16. In addition, in the secondposition of the rotor 24 the rotor body 26 blocks the second rivetconduit 18 such that, in use, a rivet cannot pass between the secondfastener conduit 18 and the first rivet conduit 16. An advantage ofblocking a conduit which should not be in use when the rotor of thefastener track selection device is in a particular configuration is thatany fastener or otherwise which is located in the unused conduit cannotfind its way into the connection space and therefore cannot contaminatethe rivet supply line.

As can be seen from the figures, the connection space 28 is sized sothat it can accommodate a plurality of fasteners 30. In otherembodiments, the connection space may be sized so as to accommodate onlya single rivet.

The connection space 28 is defined by a connection conduit in the rotorbody 26. The connection conduit is defined by a plurality of opposingwalls. In other embodiments the connection space may be defined by anysuitable structure. For example, the connection space may be defined bya number of connecting wires, rails or the like.

In the present embodiment, the connection conduit which defines theconnection space 28 is curved. In particular, the connection conduit hasa generally arrow-head or chevron shape. In other embodiments theconnection conduit may have any appropriate shape. An appropriate shapeis one which is capable of adjoining each of the first, second and thirdrivet conduits when required; and one which enables the rivets (or otherfastener) to pass along the connection conduit.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 5 , the first and second rivetconduits 16, 18 are angularly spaced from one another about the rotationaxis A by 135 degrees as indicated by the reference B. Likewise, thefirst and third rivet conduits, 16, 20 are angularly spaced from oneanother about the rotation axis A by about 135 degrees as indicated byreference C. In other embodiments the angular spacing between theconduits may be any appropriate spacing.

The connection conduit comprises first and second ends 28 a, 28 b. Thefirst and second ends 28 a, 28 b are angularly spaced about the rotationaxis A by about 135 degrees (again indicated by C).

As seen best in FIG. 4 , the rivet track selection device comprises anactuator 32 configured to rotate the rotor 24 relative to the stator 22.In particular, the actuator 32 is mechanically linked to the rotor sothat it can drive rotation thereof. Any appropriate actuator may beused, provided it is capable of driving the rotor between the first andsecond positions. For example, the actuator may be a rotary actuator ora linear actuator which converts a linear input to rotation.

In use, the actuator 32 is configured to rotate the rotor 24 in a firstdirection D to move the rotor from the first position as shown in FIG. 2to the second position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . In particular, therotor is rotated by about 225 degrees clockwise. Similarly, the actuatoris further configured to rotate the rotor in said first direction D tomove the rotor from the second position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to thefirst position as shown in FIG. 2 . Said rotation is a rotation of about135 degrees clockwise. Consequently, as the rotor undergoes a completerotation of 360 degrees, the rotor will move from the first position tothe second position and then from the second position to the firstposition.

In other embodiments the actuator may be configured to rotate the rotorin an anti-clockwise direction (opposite to direction D) to move therotor from the first position as shown in FIG. 2 to the second positionas shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . In particular, the rotor may be rotated byabout 135 degrees anti-clockwise. The actuator may then further beconfigured to rotate the rotor in said first direction D to move therotor from the second position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to the firstposition as shown in FIG. 2 . Said rotation is a rotation of about 135degrees clockwise. It follows that as the rotor moves between the firstand second positions multiple times it oscillates by 135 degrees in theclockwise and anti-clockwise directions. In such embodiments theactuator and/or rotor may include stops which define the limits ofrotation of the rotor in both the clockwise and anti-clockwisedirections. Such an arrangement may require less positional accuracy ofthe actuator and therefore make the system less susceptible to potentialmisalignment.

A benefit of configuring the actuator so that rotates in the samedirection so as to move the rotor from the first position to the secondposition, and from the second position to the first position is that theactuator only needs to rotate in a single direction. Consequently, theactuator can be of relatively simple construction. Additionally, it maybe that, by only requiring the actuator to cause rotation in a singledirection, this puts less strain on the actuator and, therefore, theactuator, and hence the rivet track selection device, may have anincreased operating lifetime.

It will be appreciated that, although within the present embodiment theactuator is configured to rotate in the same direction when moving therotor from the first position to the second position, and when movingthe rotor from the second position to the first position, in otherembodiments the actuator may be configured to rotate the rotor inopposite directions.

In the present embodiment the rotor body 26 is generally disk-shaped.This is advantageous because, if the disk has a centre axis which iscoaxial with the axis of rotation or the rotor, then the rotor canrotate within a generally circular cavity within the main body/stator ofthe device unhindered.

As seen best in FIG. 4 , the device includes biasing means 34 in theform of compression springs. The biasing means 34 are configured to urgethe rotor 24 towards the stator 22 in a direction generally parallel tothe rotation axis A. In particular, the biasing means 34 urges thegenerally radial face 36 of the rotor against the adjacent generallyradial face 38 of the stator 22. This creates a seal between the rotorand the stator. Such a seal may be useful in applications whereby thefasteners are propelled along the conduits of the supply line usingcompressed gas, such as compressed air or the like. In this situation,any leakage of the compressed gas between the rotor and the stator wouldresult in a loss of operating performance of the device of which thefastener track selection device forms part. A loss of gas may result ina loss or reduction of propulsion speed of the fasteners along thesupply line of the fastener device of which the fastener track selectiondevice forms part.

In some applications the second and third rivet conduits 18, 20 may beconfigured to be supplied with fasteners with first and second upstreamfastener sources respectively. Such an embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9and 10 which are discussed later. In such applications the firstfastener conduit 16 may be configured to supply fasteners to adownstream fastener consumer. In this way, the fastener track selectiondevice may be used to choose between fasteners from the first or secondupstream fastener source and supply fasteners from the desired upstreamfastener source to the downstream fastener consumer. For example, in thecase that the fastener track selection device formed part of a rivetsetter, the fastener track selection device may be used to ensure that acorrect type of rivet is supplied to the rivet setter depending onwhether a rivet of the first or second type (located in the first andsecond fastener sources respectively) is required given theconfiguration of a working piece that a rivet setter is required tosecure.

In another application the second and third fastener conduits 18 and 20may be configured to supply fasteners to at least one downstreamfastener consumer. In some embodiments the second and third conduits maybe configured to supply fasteners to two separate rivet setters, or,alternatively, the second and third conduits may supply fasteners todifferent portions of a single rivet setter. The first fastener conduit16 may be configured to receive fasteners from an upstream fastenersource. It follows that in these applications the fastener trackselection device can be used to enable rivets from a single source offasteners to selectively supply either two different fastener consumersor two different portions of a particular fastener consumer.

In some applications more than one of the rivet track selection devicesmay be used in series to enable supply of rivets from a larger number ofrivet supply locations and/or receipt of rivets by a larger number ofrivet consumers.

As previously discussed, the rivet handling device 10 shown in FIGS. 1to 6 also includes an in-line rivet selection device 14. The selectiondevice 14 includes a rivet conduit 16 having a first rivet conduitportion 16 a and a second rivet conduit portion 16 b. The selectiondevice 14 further comprises an escapement mechanism 40 located betweenthe first and second rivet conduit portions 16 a and 16 b.

In the present embodiment the rivet selection device 14 comprises arotor 42 which rotates about a rotation axis E relative to a statorwhich, in the present embodiment, is constituted by the main body 22 ofthe device 10. The rotor 42 of the present embodiment comprises a base42 a from which a pawl 42 b extends in a direction generally parallel tothe rotation axis E. As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8the pawl 42 b is generally arcuate in cross-section perpendicular to therotation axis E. In particular, the shape of the pawl 42 b is such thatit has a centre of curvature which is located on the rotation axis E.The pawl 42 b subtends an angle of approximately 120 degrees about therotation axis E.

As seen best in FIG. 4 , the device 14 includes biasing means 41 in theform of compression springs. The biasing means 41 are configured to urgethe rotor 42 towards the stator 22 in a direction generally parallel tothe rotation axis E. In particular, the biasing means 41 urge thegenerally radial face 43 of the rotor against the adjacent generallyradial face 45 of the stator 22. This creates a seal between the rotorand the stator. As already discussed, such a seal may be useful inapplications whereby the fasteners are propelled along the conduits ofthe supply line using compressed gas, such as compressed air or thelike.

FIG. 7 shows a highly schematic view of a portion of the rivet selectiondevice 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 . In particular, FIG. 7 shows thefirst and second rivet conduit portions 16 a and 16 b together with thepawl 42 b of the escapement mechanism. In addition, FIG. 7 shows severalrivets 30 located in the rivet conduit 16.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 7 is a highly schematic representationof interaction between the escapement mechanism and the rivets withinthe present embodiment of the rivet selection device. In reality thepawl 42 b may have a slightly different shape and, not only will thepawl be in contact with the rivet adjacent to it, but, also, adjacentrivets behind the escapement mechanism will contact one another.

FIG. 7 shows five different configurations of the rivet selectiondevice, and, in particular, of the pawl of the escapement mechanism ofthe rivet selection device. These different configurations are labelleda, b, c1, c2 and d.

FIG. 7 shows a first configuration (denoted by a) in which a firstbarrier portion 42 c of the escapement mechanism is configured to blockthe passage of a leading rivet 30 a from a first section 16 b 1 of thesecond rivet conduit portion 16 b to the first rivet conduit portion 16a.

Configuration b within FIG. 7 is a second configuration, in which thefirst barrier portion 42 c is configured to permit the passage of theleading rivet 30 a from the first section 16 b 1 of the second rivetconduit portion 16 b to the first rivet conduit portion 16 a. A secondbarrier portion 42 d of the pawl 42 b of the escapement mechanism isconfigured to block the passage of a trailing rivet 30 b from a secondsection 16 b 2 of the second rivet conduit portion 16 b to the firstsection 16 b 1 of the second rivet conduit portion 16 b.

The fact that the leading fastener 30 a is permitted to pass from thefirst section of the second rivet conduit portion to the first rivetconduit portion is represented by arrow F. Within FIG. 7 , movement ofthe escapement mechanism from the first configuration a to the secondconfiguration b is noted schematically by arrow 7A. In the present casethis involves rotation of the rotor 42, and hence pawl 42 b, in aclockwise direction by approximately 90 degrees.

FIG. 7 also shows two alternative possible third configurations c1 andc2 of the escapement member (and hence pawl 42 b) in which the secondbarrier portion 42 d is configured to permit the passage of the trailingfastener 30 b from the second section 16 b 2 of the second rivet conduitportion 16 b to the first section 16 b 1 of the second rivet conduitportion 16 b. Movement of the trailing fastener 30 b from the secondsection of the second rivet conduit portion to the first section of thesecond rivet conduit portion is indicated by arrow G.

In addition, in the first possible alternative of the thirdconfiguration c1, the second barrier portion 42 d of the escapementmechanism is also configured to block the passage of the trailingfastener 30 b from the first section 16 b 1 of the second rivet conduitportion 16 b to the first rivet conduit portion 16 a. The movement ofthe escapement mechanism between the second configuration b and thefirst alternative of the third configuration c1 is represented by arrow7B. In the present embodiment this is a rotation of the rotor 42 of theescapement (and hence the pawl 42 b) in a clockwise direction by about180 degrees.

FIG. 7 also shows a second possible alternative of a third configurationc2. In this alternative of the third configuration, just as with thefirst alternative of the third configuration c1, the second barrierportion 42 d of the escapement mechanism is configured to permit thepassage of the trailing fastener 30 b from the second section of thesecond rivet conduit portion 16 d 2 to the first section of the secondfastener conduit portion 16 d 1. However, in contrast to the firstalternative of the third configuration c1, the second alternative of thethird configuration c2 is such that the first barrier portion 42 c isconfigured to block the passage of the trailing fastener 30 b from thefirst section 16 b 1 of the second rivet conduit portion 16 b to thefirst rivet conduit portion 16 a.

Within FIG. 7 , movement of the rotor (and hence pawl) of the escapementmechanism from the second configuration b to the second alternativethird configuration c2 is denoted schematically by arrow 7C. In thepresent case this is a rotation of the rotor of the escapement mechanismin an anti-clockwise direction by approximately 90 degrees.

Although the configurations of the escapement mechanism of the rivetselection device are being described in detail in relation to FIG. 7 ,for completeness, it should be noted that FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 also show theescapement mechanism in the first configuration. FIGS. 4 and 5 show theescapement mechanism in the second configuration.

It will be appreciated that, as shown in FIG. 7 , the second alternativeof the third configuration c2 is equivalent to the first configurationa. In particular, the location of the rotor (and hence pawl 42 b) of theescapement mechanism in the second alternative of the thirdconfiguration is the same as that in the first configuration a. The onlydifference is that, in the first configuration a, the first barrierportion 42 c of the escapement mechanism is preventing the leadingfastener from passing to the first rivet conduit portion 16 a, whereas,in the second alternative of the third configuration c2 the firstbarrier portion 42 c of the escapement mechanism blocks the passage ofthe trailing rivet 30 b to the first rivet conduit portion 16 a because(in the second configuration b) the leading rivet 30 a has already beenreleased by the escapement mechanism in advance of the secondalternative of the third configuration c2.

To the contrary, the position of the rotor (and hence pawl 42 b) of theescapement mechanism is different in the first alternative of the thirdconfiguration c1 as compared to that of the first configuration a.

As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b , in the presentlydescribed embodiment the first end of pawl 42 b of the escapementmechanism constitutes the first barrier portion 42 c of the escapementmechanism and the second end of the pawl 42 b constitutes the secondbarrier portion 42 d of the escapement mechanism. As will be discussedin more detail later within this document, this need not always be thecase. The radiused portion at the radially innermost edge of the secondend/barrier portion 42 d of the pawl is used to separate the rivet headsor stems of two adjacent rivets (the leading rivet and the trailingrivet) as the pawl moves into the second configuration. The pawl shownin FIG. 8 a is suitable for use in applications whereby rivets flow tothe pawl in a single direction. Whereas, the pawl shown in FIG. 8 b issuitable for use in applications whereby rivets flow to the pawl in aboth directions. In order to facilitate the change, the first and secondends of the pawl shown in FIG. 8 b are symmetrical, whereas those of thepawl shown in FIG. 8 a are not.

The use of an escapement mechanism according to the present embodimentenables rivets in a rivet supply line to be metered out individually asand when they are required. This has several benefits including theprevention of potential jamming/blockage of the rivet supply linedownstream of the rivet selection device due to the fact that rivetsonly travel along the supply line downstream of the rivet selectiondevice one at a time. Furthermore, the rivet selection device enablescontrol as to when a particular rivet travels along the rivet supplyline downstream of the rivet selection device. As such, it is possibleto supply rivets to a rivet consumer downstream of the fastenerselection device only at a time when they are required by the rivetconsumer. This may prevent an unwanted build-up of rivets at the rivetconsumer.

In the configuration a of the escapement mechanism the first barrierportion 42 c of the escapement mechanism is located at a first positionand the second barrier portion 42 d of the escapement mechanism islocated at a second position. Additionally, in the second configurationb of the escapement mechanism the first barrier portion 42 c is locatedat a third position, and the second barrier portion 42 d of theescapement mechanism is located at a fourth position. The rivetselection device is configured such that the first barrier portion 42 cis actuable from the first position (as in the first configuration a) tothe third position (as in the second configuration b) coupled with thesecond barrier portion 42 d being actuated from the second position (asin the first configuration a) to the fourth position (as is the case inthe second configuration b).

Where it is said that the first barrier portion is actuable coupled withthe second barrier portion, what is meant is that the first and secondbarrier portions are coupled together such that a single actuator cansimultaneously move both the first and second barrier portions. This maybe advantageous as compared to systems which include separate actuatorsfor moving first and second barrier portions because the need for only asingle actuator reduces cost and complexity. Furthermore, because thefirst and second barrier portions are coupled to one another formovement, it means that the first and second barrier portions undergomovement which is synchronised—unless the coupling between the first andsecond barrier portions is broken, it is not possible for the movementof the first and second barrier portions to become out of sync. It willbe appreciated that out of sync movement of the first and second barrierportions may result in incorrect functioning of the rivet selectiondevice and, in particular, may lead to the escapement mechanism and/orrivets passing through the escapement mechanism becoming jammed.

For completeness, in the first alternative of the third configurationc1, the second barrier portion 42 d of the escapement mechanism is in afifth position, and the first barrier portion 42 c of the escapementmechanism is in a sixth position. The rivet selection device isconfigured such that the first barrier portion 42 c is actuable from thethird position to the sixth position (e.g. when the escapement mechanismmoves from the second configuration b to the first alternative thirdconfiguration c1) coupled with the second barrier portion 42 d beingactuated from the fourth position to the fifth position. The benefits ofthe first and second barrier portions being coupled together so thatthey can be simultaneously actuated has already been discussed above.

Alternatively, as is the case with the second alternative of the thirdconfiguration c2, the first barrier portion 42 c of the escapementmechanism is in the first position and the second barrier portion 42 dof the escapement mechanism is in the second position. The rivetselection device is configured such that the first barrier portion 42 cis actuable from the third position to the first position (e.g. when theescapement mechanism moves from the second configuration b to the secondalternative third configuration c2) coupled with the second barrierportion 42 d being actuated from the fourth position to the secondposition. Again, the benefits of the first and second barrier portionsbeing coupled so that they are actuated simultaneously has already beendiscussed above and so will not be repeated here.

As has already been discussed, movement of the escapement mechanismbetween the first, second and third configurations is achieved byrotation of the rotor 42 a of the escapement mechanism 42 relative tothe stator. Such rotation may be achieved in any appropriate manner. Insome embodiments the rivet selection device 14 comprises an actuator 44configured to rotate the rotor 42 relative to the stator 22 about theaxis E in the manner already discussed. The actuator may be a rotaryactuator or a linear actuator. That is to say the actuator may outputrotary motion as a result of the actuator being driven for rotation, orthe actuator may output rotary motion as a result of linear motioninput.

Returning now to FIG. 7 , the rivet selection device may be configuredsuch that the escapement mechanism oscillates between the second andthird configurations. In the most straightforward alternative, theescapement mechanism passes from the second alternative thirdconfiguration c2 along schematic lines 7D and 7A to the secondconfiguration b and then back to the second alternative thirdconfiguration c2 along the line 7C.

Whereas the escapement mechanism oscillates directly between the secondand third configurations b and c2, in other embodiments the escapementmember may oscillate between second and third configurations b and c1 inan indirect manner. For example, the escapement mechanism moves from thefirst alternative third configuration c1 to the second configuration balong line 7E, via the first configuration a and line 7A. The escapementmechanism then moves from the second configuration b to the thirdconfiguration via the line 7B etc. It will be noted that movementbetween the first alternative third configuration c1 and the firstconfiguration a is a rotation of the rotor 42 (and hence pawl 42 b) in aclockwise direction by about 90 degrees.

Oscillation between the second and third configurations, as discussedabove, is beneficial in that it allows an on-going stream of rivets tobe metered out by the rivet selection device. The main differencebetween the said oscillation between the second and third configurationsin the case of the first alternative third configuration and in the caseof the second alternative third configuration is that, in the case ofthe first alternative third configuration, the cycle of movement of therotor involves only movement of the rotor in the clockwise direction. Tothe contrary, the cycle of configurations which includes the secondalternative third configuration c2 involves rotation of the rotor in theclockwise configuration, followed by rotation of the rotor in theanticlockwise direction.

The two alternatives have their relative advantages and disadvantages.For example, a rotor in the case of the second alternative thirdconfiguration the rotor travels less angular distance when executing anoscillation (about 180 degrees as compared to about 360 degrees). Thismeans that the cycle of the escapement mechanism may be quicker in thecase of the second alternative third configuration c2. Additionally,because the actuator is only having to move a rotor by half the angulardistance, it is possible that the actuator will last more cycles,therefore making the escapement mechanism of the rivet selection devicemore reliable/longer lasting. Alternatively, because an actuatoractuating the cycle including the first alternative third configurationc1 only has to rotate in a single direction, this may lead to less wearand tear on the actuator and hence a longer life of the actuatorresulting in increased reliability of the rivet selection device.

As can be seen in FIG. 7 , the escapement mechanism of the rivetselection device may include a fourth configuration d. The fourthconfiguration d is optional and may therefore not be present in allembodiments of the invention. In the fourth configuration d, which inthe present embodiment is between the first and second configurations aand b, the first barrier portion 42 c and second barrier portion 42 dare configured to hold the leading fastener 30 a within the escapementmechanism such that the leading fastener is not free to exit theescapement mechanism in either travel direction. As can be seen fromFIG. 7 , the fourth configuration d is accessed from the firstconfiguration a by a clockwise rotation of the rotor 42 a (and hencepawl 42 b). This is represented schematically by the dashed line 7F.Similarly, the escapement mechanism moves from the fourth configurationd to the second configuration b by a further clockwise rotation of therotor 42 a and hence pawl 42 b. This is represented schematically by thedashed line 7G.

The presence of a fourth configuration d of the escapement mechanism maybe advantageous in some applications of the rivet selection device. Inparticular, the presence of a fourth configuration can be used to retaina rivet within the escapement mechanism and/or first section 16 b 1 ofthe second portion of the rivet conduit 16 b. For example, in someapplications, fourth configuration may be used to retain a rivet in thefirst section of the second conduit portion against the action ofgravity or any other force which acts so as to urge the rivet away fromthis position. Additionally, the fourth configuration d allows therelevant rivet to be held in position whilst the rivet selection deviceis moved (for example when the rivet selection device is mounted on arobot arm). When the rivet selection device comes to rest the escapementmechanism can then be moved from the fourth configuration d to thesecond configuration b, when required.

The use of a fourth configuration means that when the leading rivetrequires release (for example, to take part in a rivet settingoperation) because the escapement mechanism only has to move from thefourth configuration d to the second configuration b, as opposed to fromthe first configuration a to the second configuration d, the distancethe escapement mechanism has to move to release the leading rivet isless, thereby speeding up the process (e.g. reducing the cycle timebetween rivet setting operations).

As is well known in the art, rivets, and in particular self-piercingrivets, include a head portion 30 c from which a stem portion 30 ddepends. As best shown in FIG. 3 , in the present embodiment the firstand second barrier portions 42 c, 42 d of the pawl 42 b are configuredto contact a head portion of the rivet as they pass through theescapement mechanism.

In other embodiments, in addition, or alternatively, the first andsecond barrier portions may be configured to contact a stem portion ofthe rivets.

Turning now to FIG. 9 , which shows a rivet track selection device 12 inwhich the second and third rivet conduits 18, 20 are configured to besupplied with fasteners from first and second upstream fastener sources,and the first fastener conduit 16 is configured to supply rivets to adownstream rivet consumer, it can be seen that each of the second andthird rivet conduits 18, 20 include their own respective rivet selectiondevice 14 b, 14 a of the same type discussed in relation to FIGS. 1 to 8, including respective escapement mechanisms 40 b, 40 a andactuators—not shown in relation to rivet selection device 14 b, and 44 ain relation to rivet selection device 14 a.

In addition, each rivet selection device 14 a, 14 b includes a rivetlocation sensor 46 a, 46 b. The rivet location sensors 46 a and 46 bdetect the presence or otherwise of a rivet at the respective escapementmechanism 40 a, 40 b, and, in particular, at the first section of thesecond portion of the respective conduit 20, 18.

In the present embodiment only one rivet at a time is sent to the trackselection device 12 from the escapement mechanisms 40 a, 40 b of thethird and second conduits 20, 18. In this way, the rivet track selectiondevice 12 (and in particular the actuator 32 thereof) is controlled incombination with the actuators of each of the rivet selection devices 14a, 14 b to ensure that either in advance of a rivet being released froma particular escapement mechanism 40 a, 40 b of a particular conduit 20,18 (or, alternatively, as a result of a rivet being released from theescapement mechanism 40 a, 40 b of one of the conduits 20, 18) the rotor24 of the rivet track selection device 12 is orientated by the actuator32 so that the connection space adjoins both the first conduit 16 andthe respective second or third conduit from which the rivet is eitherabout to be released from or has been released from by the respectiveescapement mechanism 40 a, 40 b.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the escapement mechanism 40 b of therivet selection device 14 b of the second conduit 18 is in the firstconfiguration, whereby the rivet 30 e is prevented from moving past theescapement mechanism. To the contrary, the escapement mechanism 40 a ofthe rivet selection device 14 a of the third conduit 20 is in the secondconfiguration, whereby rivet 30 f has been released by the escapementmechanism 40 a. In this situation the rivet position sensor 46 a detectsthat rivet 30 f is no longer located at the escapement mechanism 40 aand this causes a controller to, based on the sensor signal produced bythe sensor 46 a, control the actuator 32 of the rivet track selectiondevice 12 to arrange the rotor 24 so that the connection space adjoinsthe first and third conduit 16, 20 so as to enable the rivet 30 f topass from the third conduit 20 to the first conduit 16.

FIG. 10 shows a separate configuration of the devices shown in FIG. 9 ,whereby the escapement mechanism 40 a of the fastener selection device14 a of the third conduit 20 is in the first configuration, such thatthe escapement mechanism blocks the passage of rivet 30 g past theescapement mechanism; and where the escapement mechanism 40 b of therivet selection device 14 b of the second conduit 18 is in the secondconfiguration whereby rivet 30 e has been permitted to pass theescapement mechanism 40 b. The rivet position sensor 46 b detects thatthe rivet 30 e has left the escapement mechanism 40 b and, based uponthe sensor signal of the sensor 46 b indicating that the rivet 30 e hasleft the escapement mechanism 40 b, causes the actuator 32 of the rivettrack selection device 12 to ensure that the connection space of therotor 24 is positioned so that the connection space adjoins the firstand second rivet conduits 16, 18, so that the fastener 30 e released bythe escapement mechanism 40 b can pass from the second conduit 18 to thefirst conduit 16.

The previously discussed rivet selection device was one in whichmovement between the first, second and third (and, optionally fourth)configurations of the escapement mechanism required rotation of a rotorcomprising a base from which a pawl extends. A first end of the pawlconstituted the first barrier portion and a second end of the pawlconstituted a second barrier portion. In other embodiments, such asthose shown in FIGS. 11 to 15 , the escapement mechanism may still movebetween different configurations by rotation, but the first and secondbarrier portions may be constituted by something other than a pawl.FIGS. 11 to 15 show a separate embodiment of rivet selection device 50.The rivet selection device 50 works in exactly the same manner as theearlier discussed rivet selection device 14. Consequently, only thedifferences between the rivet selection device 14 and rivet selectiondevice 50 will be discussed here.

The rotor 42 of this embodiment comprises a base 42 e from which firstand second pins 42 f, 42 g extend in a direction generally parallel tothe rotation axis E.

In this embodiment the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanismcomprises the first pin 42 f and the second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism comprises the second pin 42 g. As with thepreviously discussed embodiment of fastener selection device, the pins42 f and 42 g protrude into the conduit 16 so as to interact with therivets passing through the conduit and thereby either block their pathor allow them to pass.

In the present embodiment the angle about the axis E subtended betweenthe centre of the first pin 42 f and the centre of the second pin 42 gis about 90 degrees.

Although the pins described in relation to the present embodiment have agenerally circular cross-section and are spaced by approximately 90degrees, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the pins mayhave any appropriate cross-sectional shape and may be spaced by anyappropriate angular distance.

As will be apparent to the reader, the rivet selection device 50 asshown in FIGS. 12 and 13 has an escapement mechanism (and hence rotor42) which is in the first configuration in which the first barrierportion (including pin 420 is configured to block the passage of theleading rivet 30 a from a first section 16 b 1 of the second fastenerconduit portion 16 b to the first fastener conduit portion 16 a.

Furthermore, the fastener selection device 50 as shown in FIGS. 14 and15 has an escapement mechanism (and hence rotor) which is in the secondconfiguration whereby the first barrier portion (including pin 420 isconfigured to permit the passage of the leading faster 30 a from thefirst section 16 b 1 of the second rivet conduit portion 16 d to thefirst fastener conduit portion 16 a (said passage being indicated byarrow F). In addition the second portion (including pin 42 g) isconfigured to block the passage of the trailing rivet 30 b from a secondsection 16 b 2 of the second rivet conduit portion 16 b to the firstsection 16 b 1 of the second fastener portion 16 b.

All other aspects of the functioning of the fastener selection device 50are entirely equivalent to the functioning of fastener selection device14. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, further discussion of thefunctioning of rivet selection device 50 is omitted.

Thus far the described rivet selection devices have been described inisolation from their location within a rivet setter. This is becausethey may be located at any appropriate location within a rivet setterwhich requires metered supply of rivets.

In addition, the described rivet selection devices utilise rotary motionof the rotor of the escapement mechanism to move between first, secondand third configurations. To the contrary, the embodiment of rivetselection device shown in FIGS. 16 to 21 has an escapement mechanismthat translates between the first and second configurations, and betweenthe second and third configurations. Said translation is generallylinear, however, this need not always be the case. This is discussed inmore detail below.

FIGS. 16 to 21 show a rivet selection device 60 located adjacent a noseportion 62 of a rivet setting device 64. A conduit 66 is configured tosupply rivets 68 to the nose portion 62 via the rivet selection device60. As such, the rivet selection device 60 can meter out rivets to thenose portion of the rivet setting device 64 when required. In thepresent embodiment the rivets 68 are driven along the conduit 66 towardsthe nose portion 62 by compressed air.

The rivet selection device 60 comprises an escapement mechanism 70having a barrier assembly 71 comprising a primary barrier 72 and twosecondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b. The first barrier portion of therivet selection device comprises the primary barrier 72, and the secondbarrier portion of the rivet selection device comprises the secondarybarrier members 74 a, 74 b.

Before going any further it is worth explaining how the side-elevationcross-sections shown in FIGS. 16, 18 and 20 relate to the endcross-sections of FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 . The plane of the endcross-sections of FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 is perpendicular to that of theside elevation cross-sections of FIGS. 16, 18 and 20 . In particular theplanes of the end cross-sections lie along line H-H as shown in FIG. 16. Finally, the end cross-sections of FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 are viewed inthe direction of arrow I shown in FIG. 16 . Not much of the detail shownin the end cross-sections is visible in the side elevationcross-sections. That said, to aid in consolidating the two views, baseplate 76 is visible in both.

As can be seen most clearly in the end cross-sections of FIGS. 17, 19and 21 , the secondary barrier members 74 a and 74 b are located eitherside of the fastener conduit, which, in this case, is a T-shaped rivetconduit 66. When it is said that the secondary barrier members 74 a and74 b are located either side of the rivet conduit 66, this means thatthey are spaced apart in a direction which is perpendicular to both thedirection of travel of rivets within the conduit 66 and to the height(or longitudinal axis) of the rivets conveyed by the conduit 66.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 17 , the secondary barrier members74 a, 74 b are spaced by a distance S which is less than a maximum widthW of a rivet 68 carried by the rivet conduit 66. In the presentembodiment the maximum width W of the rivet 68 is the maximum diameterof the head portion of the rivet 68. This is important for the operationof the escapement mechanism 70 of the present embodiment as discussedbelow. In addition, the secondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b are spacedby a distance which is greater than a minimum diameter of the rivets.This enables secondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b to sit outboard of thelower (narrower) portion of the T-shaped rivet conduit.

A pneumatic actuator 78 (which in other embodiments may be any otherappropriate type of actuator) drives the barrier assembly 71 in a lineardirection J. The barrier assembly comprises a base 80 to which theactuator 78 and primary barrier 72 are connected. The base 80 is alsoconnected to a pair of containment pins 82 a, 82 b. It follows that asthe actuator 78 translates the base 80, the attached primary barrier 72and containment pins 82 a, 82 b move with it.

The secondary barrier members 74 a and 74 b sit in respective channels84 a and 84 b, which each extend in the direction J and sit outboard ofthe narrow portion of the T-shaped conduit. A resilient biasing member86 a, 86 b in the form of a spring sits behind each secondary barriermember 74 a, 74 b so as to bias the secondary barrier members in theupwards direction as seen in FIG. 17 . The containment pins 82 a, 82 beach rest on top of a respective secondary barrier member 74 a, 74 b.The position of the containment pins 82 a, 82 b act as a stop whichlimits the upward movement of the secondary barrier members 74 a and 74b under the influence of the resilient biasing members. It follows thatas the containment pins 82 a, 82 b move up under the influence of theactuator, the resilient biasing members will urge the secondary barriermembers upwards. Conversely, as the containment pins 82 a, 82 b movedown under the influence of the actuator, the resilient biasing memberswill be compressed and the containment pins will move the secondarybarrier members downwards.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the escapement mechanism in a first configuration.In the first configuration of the escapement mechanism the first barrierportion of the escapement mechanism, which includes the primary barrier72, is configured to block the passage of a leading fastener 68 a from afirst section 86 of a second rivet conduit portion to a first fastenerconduit portion 88. In the present embodiment the second fastenerconduit portion includes the conduit 66 and the first section of thesecond fastener conduit portion may be referred to as a fastenertransfer area 86. The first fastener conduit portion may be referred toas a standby position 88. The standby position 88 is a position at whicha rivet sits before it is struck by a punch 90 of the rivet settingmachine.

In the first configuration of the escapement mechanism, as can be seenbest in FIG. 17 , the containment pins 82 a and 82 b compress thesprings 86 a, 86 b and thereby hold the secondary barrier members 74 a,74 b out of the conduit 66 so that rivets located in the conduit 66 areable to pass the secondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b unhindered.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show the escapement mechanism of the rivet selectiondevice in the fourth configuration. In this configuration the actuator78 has been actuated so as to move upwards in the direction J. Movementof the actuator 78 upwards in the direction J also moves the base 80 andconsequently the primary barrier 72 and containment pins 82 a, 82 bupwards. Despite the fact that the primary barrier 72 is moved upwards,it still protrudes into the conduit 66 to the extent that it cancontinue to block the passage of the leading rivet 68 a from the rivettransfer area 86 to the standby position 88. As the containment pins 82a, 82 b move upwards, the springs 86 a, 86 b urge the respective barriermembers 74 a and 74 b upwards so that they follow the containment pins82 a, 82 b. As the barrier members 74 a and 74 b move upwards theyprotrude into the conduit 66 so as to contact a head portion 68 b 1 ofthe trailing rivet 68 b. The springs 68 a, 68 b act so as to urge thesecondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b upwards to the extent that the head68 b 1 of the trailing rivet 68 b is trapped between the secondarybarrier members 74 a, 74 b and an upper wall 66 a of the conduit 66. Dueto the fact that the trailing fastener 68 b is trapped by the secondarybarrier members 74 a, 74 b, the trailing rivet is held within theescapement mechanism such that the trailing rivet 68 b is not free toexit the escapement mechanism.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the escapement mechanism of the rivet selectiondevice in a second configuration. In the second configuration of theescapement mechanism the actuator has moved lineally upwards in thedirection J relative to the first configuration as shown in FIGS. 16 and17 (and relative to the fourth configuration as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19). The actuator is now at an upper limit of its movement. Movement ofthe actuator upwards results in movement of the base 80 and also theattached primary barrier 72 and containment pins 82 a, 82 b upward. Theprimary barrier 72 is moved upwards to the extent that it no longerblocks the passage of the leading fastener 68 a from the fastenertransfer area 68 a to the standby position 88. In particular, theprimary barrier 72 has been retracted from the conduit 66. The leadingrivet 68 a therefore moves from the rivet transfer area 86 to thestandby position 88.

In addition, it will be noted that the primary barrier 72 has a taperedend face 72 a. This may not be present in all embodiments of the presentinvention. The tapered end face 72 a assists the leading rivet 68 a inmoving over the end face 72 a of the primary barrier 72 as the primarybarrier 72 is retracted out of the conduit 66.

Turning now to FIG. 21 , it can be seen that the containment pins 82 aand 82 b have moved upwards relative to their position in the firstconfiguration of the escapement mechanism (and in fact, also in relationto their position in the fourth configuration). As already discussed,the upward movement of the containment pins 82 a, 82 b, enables thesecondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b to move upwards under the action ofthe springs 86 a, 86 b in the same manner as discussed in relation tothe fourth configuration. The springs 86 a, 86 b urge the secondarybarrier members 74 a, 74 b so that they extend into the rivet conduit 66(and, in particular, into the wider portion of the T-shaped conduit).The secondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b extend into the conduit 66 soas to contact trailing rivet 68 b (and in particular the head portion 68b 1 of the trailing rivet 68 b) and thereby trap (or grip) the rivet 68b (and in particular the head of the rivet) between the secondarybarrier members 74 a, 74 b and the upper wall 66 a of the conduit 66. Inthis way the secondary barrier members 74 a, 74 b block the passage ofthe trailing fastener 68 b from a second section 90 of the fastenerconduit portion 66 to the first section 86 of the second fastenerconduit portion 66. In other words, the secondary barrier members 74 a,74 b block the passage of the trailing rivet 68 b from the rivet queuingarea 90 to the rivet transfer area 86.

Other than the fact that the above described embodiment has anescapement mechanism which operates as a result of linear movement of aportion of the escapement mechanism, the methods and principles appliedin relation to the embodiments of the invention which include a rotaryescapement mechanism are entirely equivalent. As such, for the sake ofbrevity, further discussion relating to the operation of the presentembodiment is omitted. However, it is worth noting that in each case(linear movement of a portion of the escapement mechanism, and rotarymovement of a portion of the escapement mechanism) only a singleactuator is required to operate the escapement mechanism.

In the present embodiment the secondary barrier members are biased bythe resilient biasing means such that movement of the primary barrier ina direction from the first configuration (in which the primary barrieris positioned in the conduit to block passage of a rivet) to the secondconfiguration (in which the primary barrier no longer blocks the passageof said rivet) causes the secondary barrier members to move from thefirst configuration (in which they are located so that rivets located inthe conduit 66 are able to pass the secondary barrier members 74 a, 74b) to the second configuration (in which they are located so that rivetslocated in the conduit 66 are blocked by the secondary barrier members74 a, 74 b). This may be the case with any embodiment which includes aprimary barrier and secondary barrier members. Alternatively, theprimary barrier member may be biased by a resilient biasing means suchthat movement of the secondary barrier members in a direction from thefirst configuration (in which they do not block passage of a rivet) tothe second configuration (in which they block the passage of said rivet)causes the primary barrier to move from the first configuration (inwhich the primary barrier is located so that a rivet located in theconduit is blocked from passing the primary barrier) to the secondconfiguration (in which the primary barrier is located so that saidrivet located in the conduit is no longer blocked by the primarybarrier).

It will be appreciated that in the present embodiment the first andthird configurations of the escapement mechanism as defined are thesame.

FIG. 22 shows an alternative fastener setting machine including aplurality of fastener selection devices according to the presentinvention. In particular, the rivet setting machine shown in FIG. 22includes a similar rivet selection device 60 and nose 62 as shown inFIGS. 16 to 21 . In addition, the rivet setting machine shown in FIG. 22further comprises a second rivet selection device 60 a which selectivelyfeeds rivets from a second rivet conduit 66 a to the nose 62. The rivetselection devices 60 and 60 a are substantially identical, albeit thatthey are mirror images of one another.

In use, the rivets provided in the conduit 66 may be identical ordifferent from the rivets supplied in rivet conduit 66 a. In the casewhere the rivets in each of the conduits 66 and 66 a are different, theactuation of the rivet selection devices 60, 60 a can be controlled soas to ensure that the correct type of rivet (selected from either thosein the rivet conduit 60 or rivet conduit 60 a) is supplied to the noseof the rivet setting device when required. In embodiments where therivets metered out by each of the rivet selection devices 60, 60 a arethe same, the actuation of the fastener selection devices 60, 60 a maybe operated in anti-phase so as to increase the maximum speed at whichrivets can be supplied to the nose and hence increase the maximum speedat which riveting operations can be carried out.

FIGS. 23 to 28 show a further embodiment of rivet selection device inaccordance with the present invention. This embodiment is anotherembodiment in which linear translation of a portion of the escapementmechanism causes the escapement mechanism to change configuration in themanner required by the invention.

In more detail, FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 show a first configuration of theescapement mechanism of this embodiment, and FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 show asecond configuration of the escapement mechanism.

FIGS. 23 and 26 are equivalent and show side elevation cross-sections ofthe rivet selection device. FIGS. 25 and 27 show a plan cross-sectionalview in a plane perpendicular to that of FIGS. 23 and 26 . The crosssection is taken at line K-K viewed in the direction L. FIGS. 24 and 28are front cross sectional views which are perpendicular to the other twosets of views previously discussed. The cross section is taken alongline M-M in direction N.

Referring to the first configuration of the escapement mechanism shownin FIGS. 23 to 25 , the rivet selection device 100 comprises anescapement mechanism 102. The escapement mechanism 102 has a barrierassembly 104 comprising a primary barrier 106 and two secondary barriermembers 108 a, 108 b. The first barrier portion of the rivet selectiondevice comprises the primary barrier 106, and the second barrier portionof the rivet selection device comprises the secondary barrier members108 a, 108 b. As can be seen most clearly in the end cross-sections ofFIGS. 24 and 28 , the secondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b are locatedeither side of the fastener conduit, which, in this case, is a T-shapedrivet conduit 66. When it is said that the secondary barrier members 108a and 108 b are located either side of the rivet conduit 66, this meansthat they are spaced apart in a direction which is perpendicular to boththe direction of travel of the rivets within the conduit and to theheight (or longitudinal axis) of the rivet conveyed by the conduit 66.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 24 , the secondary barrier members108 a, 108 b are spaced by a distance S′ which is less than a maximumwidth W of a rivet 68 carried by the rivet conduit 66, and more than aminimum width W′ of a rivet 68 carried by the conduit 66. In the presentembodiment the maximum width W of the rivet 68 is the maximum diameterof the head portion of the rivet 68 and the minimum width W′ is thediameter of the stem portion of the rivet 68.

The barrier assembly 104 comprises a base 110 which, in use, isconnected to and actuated by any appropriate linear actuator. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to, a pneumatic actuator, or an electricactuator, such as, a solenoid. In the present embodiment the actuator isnot shown for the sake of enhancing the clarity of the figures. Anadvantage of the above-described embodiment of rivet selection device isthat a short actuation stroke is needed to escape a rivet. The shortactuation length is required regardless of the length of the rivetconcerned. The stroke may be in the range of 3 mm to 5 mm.

The base 110 is connected to the primary barrier 106 and the secondarybarrier members 108 a, 108 b such that when said base is actuated by anactuator the base 110, primary barrier 106 and secondary barrier members108 a, 108 b all move together. The actuator is configured to lineallytranslate the base 110 and attached entities upwards and downwards inthe direction J.

The secondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b sit in respective channels110 a, 110 b which each extend in the direction J.

As previously discussed, the escapement mechanism 102 shown in FIGS. 23to 25 is in the first configuration according to the present invention.It is best seen in FIG. 28 , the secondary barrier members 108 a, 108 beach include a recess 112. In the present embodiment, where thesecondary barrier members are generally cylindrical, the recesses 112are defined as circumferential grooves in the outer surface of thesecondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b. Recesses may also be said to bedefined by portions of the secondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b whichhave a reduced diameter. It will be appreciated that in otherembodiments of the invention the secondary barrier members may have anyappropriate shape and the recess in each barrier may take anyappropriate form.

Returning now to FIGS. 23 to 25 , as previously discussed, these showthe escapement mechanism 102 of the rivet selection device 100 in afirst configuration. In this first configuration the actuator haslocated the base 110 in a first, relatively low position in which theprimary barrier 106 extends into the conduit 66. As such, in the firstconfiguration the first barrier portion (which comprises the primarybarrier 106) of the escapement mechanism is configured to block thepassage of a leading fastener 68 a from a first section 113 of theconduit 66 to the conduit portion 114.

In this configuration, as seen best in FIGS. 24 and 25 , the base 110 islocated so that the recesses 112 of both the secondary barrier members108 a, 108 b define a space in the faster conduit 66 through which arivet 68 (and in particular the head of a rivet) can pass such that thefastener can pass from the second section 116 of the conduit 66 to thefirst section 113.

Referring now to FIGS. 26 to 28 , these show the escapement mechanism104 of the rivet selection device 100 in a second configuration. Ascompared to the first configuration, the actuator has moved the base 110upwards in the direction J by the distance P. In light of this, both theattached primary barrier 106 and the secondary barrier members 108 a,108 b also undergo a linear translation upwards in the direction J bythe distance P. This movement of the primary barrier 106 moves theprimary barrier so that it is substantially out of the conduit 66.Because of this, the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanismwhich comprises the primary barrier 106 now permits the passage of theleading fastener 68 a from the first section 113 of the conduit 66 tothe conduit portion 114.

In addition, as best seen in FIGS. 27 and 28 , the secondary barriermembers 108 a and 108 b are now positioned so that the secondary barriermembers 108 a and 108 b (and, in particular, the recesses 112 of thesecondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b) no longer define a space in thefastener conduit through which a rivet can pass. In particular, therecesses 112 are now located outside of the conduit 66 and consequentlythe recesses no longer define a space in the conduit through which therivet head can pass. It follows that, due to the fact that the diameterof the head of the rivet 68 b is greater than the spacing between thesecondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b the head of the rivet 68 bcontacts the secondary barrier members such that the rivet 68 b isprevented from passing from the second section 116 of the conduit 66 tothe first section 113 of the conduit. In other words, it may be saidthat the secondary barrier members block the rivet from passing from thesecond section 116 of the conduit 66 to the first section 113 of theconduit by acting as an obstacle in the path of the rivet (as comparedto trapping the rivet, as occurs in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 to21 ).

The manner in which the rivet selection device according to the presentembodiment operates is substantially the same as the way in whichpreviously discussed embodiments function. Consequently, for the sake ofbrevity, discussion of the operation of the present embodiment isomitted. That said, it should be noted that, within the presentembodiment, the first configuration of the escapement mechanism is thesame as the third configuration of the escapement mechanism as definedby the claims.

As an aside, it is worth mentioning that the embodiment shown in FIGS.23 to 28 includes a rivet location sensor 118. The purpose of thissensor 118 is to detect whether a rivet is present at the location 113(i.e. adjacent to the primary barrier 106) or not. If the sensor 118produces an output signal which is indicative of the presence of a rivetat the position 113, then this may be indicative that the escapementmember is in the first configuration. Conversely, if the sensor 118outputs a sensor signal which is indicative of a rivet not being atlocation 113 then this may provide an indication that the escapementmechanism is in the second configuration. It will be appreciated thatany appropriate sensor may be used to detect the presence or otherwiseof a rivet. For example, the sensor may be an optical sensor, forexample, a light gate; a capacitive sensor; or a magnetic sensor, forexample a Hall effect sensor (in combination with a suitable magneticfield source).

In some embodiments which include a magnetic sensor, the first barrierportion may be provided with a magnetic field source (e.g. magnet) toassist in providing a magnetic field for the sensor which changesdependent on whether a rivet is adjacent the first barrier portion ornot. In this way, the magnetic field measured by the sensor can resultin a signal produced by the sensor which is indicative of the presenceor otherwise of a rivet adjacent the first barrier portion.

The magnetic field source which forms part of the first barrier portionmay, in some embodiments, have a further purpose. If the rivets used incombination with the rivet selection device are formed from (orcomprise) a magnetic material (e.g. iron, aluminium, nickel, cobalt orrare earth elements samarium, dysprosium and neodymium), then themagnetic field source may serve to hold or trap a leading rivet when itis adjacent the first barrier portion when the escapement mechanism isin the first configuration. Such holding of the leading rivet at theprimary barrier may serve to hold a rivet at the rivet transfer area.This may be beneficial in embodiments in which gravity (due to theorientation of the rivet selection mechanism) or another force may actto urge the leading rivet away from the escapement mechanism. Once theescapement mechanism enters the second configuration a motive forcewhich drives the rivets along the conduit (e.g. compressed air) may besufficient to overcome the attractive force provided on the leadingrivet by the magnet (magnetic field source), such that the leading rivetcan pass through the rivet selection device.

In some embodiments a magnetic field source may be provided which formspart of the first barrier portion, without the provision of a magneticsensor, so as to have the benefits relating to the holding of theleading rivet at the primary barrier, as discussed above.

FIG. 29 shows a perspective view of a portion of the rivet selectiondevice as shown in FIGS. 23 to 28 . The view shows rivets 68 resting inthe generally T-shaped conduit 66. The generally T-shaped conduit 66 issuch that it includes shoulders 67 which, in use, support the heads ofthe rivets 68. The figure also shows apertures 109 through which thesecondary barrier members 108 a, 108 b pass. The secondary barriermembers are not shown within FIG. 29 so as to improve the clarity of thefigure. It can be seen that the apertures 109 are sized and positionedso that they do not extend to the edge of the shoulders 67. This ensuresthat when the secondary members 108 a and 108 b are positioned so thatthe barrier members define a space in the conduit 66 through which therivet 68 can pass, a portion of the shoulder 67 is always present. Thisensures that incorporation of the barrier members into the rivetselection device according to the present invention does not result inany discontinuity in the surface of the shoulders 67 and, consequently,the risk of the rivets 68 being caught or trapped as they move along theconduit 66 is prevented.

It will be appreciated that any of the embodiments of rivet trackselection device discussed above may be combined with any embodiment ofrivet selection device discussed above.

In addition, any rivet selection device, rivet track selection device orcombination thereof may form part of a rivet setting machine. The rivettrack selection device and/or rivet selection device may be located at anose portion of the rivet setting machine. Alternatively, they may belocated at any appropriate location within the rivet setting machine.

Any rivet track selection device, rivet selection device or combinationthereof may form part of a rivet magazine for use with a rivet settingmachine. The rivet magazine may be removable. A rivet selection devicemay be of particular benefit as part of a removable rivet magazine asfollows. In use, in some applications, each rivet may be released by therivet selection device one at a time. As such, in removable rivetmagazines that include a rivet selection device, at whatever time anoperator removes the rivet magazine, there can only be a maximum of onerivet in the portions of the riveting machine downstream of the magazine(e.g. the chute and nose area). In usual operation, this rivet has beenreleased by the magazine in order to be used in a desired rivetingoperation. It follows that in such a situation any rivet in the portionsof the riveting machine downstream of the magazine, when the magazine isremoved, will be used in the relevant riveting operation such that theportions of the riveting machine downstream of the magazine then nolonger contain any rivets. This ensures that if the removed magazine isreplaced by a magazine containing a different type of rivet, no rivet ofthe previous type is located downstream of the magazine. This prevents arivet of the previous type (which may be a rivet of an incorrect type)from being used in a riveting operation after a magazine of rivets of anew, correct type is loaded onto the rivet setting machine.

For completeness, in the event that the rivet type used on a rivetsetting machine is always common, then, in principle, there is no needfor a rivet selection device (i.e. escapement) in the magazine. Forexample, in the case of FIG. 30 (discussed in more detail below), therivet selection device 208 is entirely optional and its presence orotherwise may be determined by whether there exists a suitable rivetselection device at the nose or not. Two such examples are shown inFIGS. 30 and 31 . FIG. 30 shows a first magazine portion 200 and FIG. 31shows a second magazine portion 300. The magazine portion 200 includestwo single conduits 202 and 204. Each of these conduits includes arespective rivet selection device 206, 208, which may take the form ofany of the rivet selection devices previously discussed. The rivetselection devices 206 and 208 are operated so as to meter out rivetsfrom the first conduit 202 and the second conduit 204 respectively, andalso to pass them to the nose portion of a rivet setting machine whichwould be located at 210. In use, the rivets are supplied by conduits 202and 204 may be of the same type or may be of a different type.

The magazine portion 300 includes four rivet supply conduits 302, 304,306 and 308. Each of the rivet supply conduits 302, 304, 306, 308 has arespective rivet selection device 310, 312, 314, 316. Of course, each ofthe rivet selection devices, 310, 312, 314 and 316 may be of any of thetypes previously discussed. The rivet selection devices 310, 312, 314and 316 are controlled so as to meter out rivets from the supplyconduits 302, 304, 306 and 308 respectively. The rivets that are meteredout by the rivet selection devices 310 and 312 from rivet supplyconduits 302 and 304 are supplied to a rivet track selection device 318.Likewise, the rivets that are metered out by the rivet selection devices314 and 316 from the rivet supply conduits 306 and 308 are supplied to arivet track selection device 320. Rivet track selection device 318 canbe controlled so as to selectively determine whether a rivet metered outfrom rivet supply conduit 302 or 304 is passed down towards a nose of arivet setting device which would be located at 322. Likewise, rivettrack selection device 320 can be controlled to selectively determinewhen a metered out rivet from either rivet conduit supply 306 or 308 issupplied downstream to the location 322 of the nose portion of the rivetsetting device.

FIG. 32 shows a highly schematic view of a portion of a fastener settingmachine in accordance with several aspects of the present invention. Therivet setting machine 64 (which may also be referred to as a rivetsetting device) includes a fastener source 400. A feed device 402, aloading station 404, a magazine 406 and a nose portion 62. In thepresently described embodiment the fasteners concerned are rivets,however, in other embodiments, the fasteners may be any appropriate typeof fastener.

In use, rivets stored at the fastener source 400 are fed into the feeddevice 402. The purpose of the feed device is to correctly orientateeach of the rivets, and ensure that they have been separated from oneanother, prior to the rivets being loaded into a first feed conduit 408.The feed device 402 may be any appropriate type of feed device providedthat it can carry out the alignment and separation functions asdiscussed above. In one embodiment the feed device 403 may be avibratory feed bowl of a type well known in the art.

The conduit 408 links the feed device 402 and loading station 404. Inone particular embodiment, where the fasteners concerned are rivets(e.g. self-piercing rivets) the conduit may be referred to as a T-tube,the T-tube having a generally T-shaped cross section perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the rivets through the first feed conduit408. A first transfer gate 410 located in-line with the first feedconduit 408 is provided to selectively permit or prevent rivets frompassing from the feed device 402 to the loading station 404 via thefirst transfer gate 410. A second transfer gate 412 is located as partof the loading station 404 or downstream thereof. The location of thesecond transfer gate 412 may be anywhere upstream of the magazine 406and downstream of the first transfer gate 41.

The magazine 406 and nose portion 62 may be mounted to a moveable robot.The moveable robot (not shown) may move the magazine 406 and noseportion 62 from a first, loading position (as shown in FIG. 32 ) to asecond, riveting position at which the nose portion 62 is located at adesired position in order to carry out a riveting operation. In theloading position a second rivet feed conduit 414 (or T-tube) links theloading station 414 to the magazine 406. The second transfer gate 412 isselectively moveable between a first configuration which rivets can passfrom the loading station to the magazine, when the magazine is at theloading position, via the second fee conduit 414 and second transfergate 412, and a second configuration in which rivets cannot pass thesecond transfer gate 412.

Finally, the rivet setting machine 64 includes a third feed conduit 416(or T-tube) which links the magazine 406 to the nose portion 62. Anescapement mechanism 40, of the type described previously within thepresent application, is located in-line with respect to the third feedconduit 416. In other embodiments the escapement mechanism 40 may formpart of the magazine 406 or nose portion 62, provided that it isupstream of at least a portion of the nose portion 62. The escapementmechanism 40 has various configurations which have already beendescribed in great detail above.

The nose portion 62 includes a punch (not shown) which is configured toassist in setting a rivet in a target workpiece when said workpiece islocated adjacent to the nose portion 62.

Before moving on, it will be appreciated that although first, second andthird feed conduits 408, 414 and 416 are shown as separate entitieswhich extend between the feed device and the loading station, theloading station and the magazine, and the magazine and the nose portion,respectively; the first, second and third feed conduits 408, 414, 416may be considered to form a single conduit (which passes through each ofthe loading station, magazine and nose portion when the magazine andnose portion are in the loading position) or two separate conduits (onepassing through the loading station 404, and the other passing throughthe magazine 406 and nose portion 62 when the magazine 406 and noseportion 62 are located in a position other than the loading position).

In use, the rivet setting machine 64 operates to feed a rivet from thefastener source 400 to the nose portion 62 as follows.

The rivets pass from the fastener source 400 to the feed device 402 andare aligned thereby so as to enable them to pass into the first feedconduit 408. As previously discussed, the first feed conduit 408 (inaddition to the second feed conduit 414 and third feed conduit 416) maytake the form of a T-tube in the case where the fasteners being conveyedby the conduits are rivets. The rivets which pass into the first feedconduit 408 from the feed device 402 are initially held in place withinthe conduit 408 by the transfer gate 410. When it is desired for one ormore rivets to move along the conduit 408 to the loading station 404 thetransfer gate 410 is opened. The rivets pass to the loading station 404and are held in place within the second feed conduit 414 by the secondtransfer gate 412.

Once the magazine 406 and nose portion have moved into the loadingposition as shown in FIG. 32 , the second transfer gate 412 can beopened so that the rivets move from the loading station 404 along thesecond feed conduit 414 to the magazine 406.

In known rivet setting machines one or more bursts of compressed air maybe used to move the rivets along the conduits 408, 414 so as to move therivets from the feed device 402 to the magazine 406. In someapplications the magazine 406 and nose portion 62 may only be located atthe loading position for a limited period of time between rivetingoperations (for example 3 seconds or less). As such, there is limitedtime for rivets stored in the fastener source to be transferred to themagazine 406.

Once the rivets are located within the magazine 406 the magazine 406 andnose portion 62 may be moved away from the loading position to a desiredposition for a riveting operation to take place. When a rivetingoperation is required, the escapement mechanism 40 is operated aspreviously discussed so as to enable a single rivet to pass through theescapement mechanism 40 along the conduit 416 to the nose portion 62.Once the rivet is received at the nose portion 62 the punch of the noseportion 62 can be used to set the rivet in the workpiece as required. Ina similar manner to the movement of the rivets between the feed device402 and magazine 406, movement of the rivet between the magazine 406 andthe nose portion 62 via conduit 416 and escapement mechanism 40 may beeffected in known rivet setting machines by using one or more bursts ofcompressed air supplied at a location upstream of the rivet to be moved.

In each of the situations discussed above in which compressed air isused to move one or more rivets along the various conduits, airpressures between two and four bar may be used to accelerate the rivetsthrough the T-tube conduits. For completeness, the person skilled in theart knows that longer rivets require a lower pressure of compressed airto avoid excessive rivet velocity that can damage components when themoving rivet or rivets contacts a stationary component. Conversely, ashort rivet generally requires higher pressure.

The Applicant has found that there are several disadvantages to usingcompressed air to accelerate rivets within the T-tube conduit. First,the Applicant has observed that when compressed gas initially interactswith one or more rivets to be accelerated, the rivet experiencesvibration or flutter as it accelerates from its static position. Thisvibration or flutter causes the rivet to contact the internal surfacesof the conduit. Such contact creates erosion and wear within the conduitwhich is undesirable. Such contact also means that some of the energyprovided to the rivet or rivets to be accelerated is wasted as friction.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the initialvibration or flutter of the rivet being moved by the compressed gas maybe due to one or more of several different effects. First, when thecompressed air enters the conduit, it immediately mixes with stationarygas that is already present within the system. This may create aturbulent mixture of gases which results in non-uniform movement of theair within the system, and, hence, non-uniform movement of the rivet.Secondly, the static rivet may suddenly be moved by the compressed airin a non-laminar manner. It is desirable to alleviate current wearissues caused by the above discussed initial acceleration of a staticrivet in the conduit.

In addition to the wasted energy which results from the friction betweenthe transported rivets and conduit, compressed air is a consumable whichmust be generated. As such, it is desirable to provide a rivet settingmachine which transports rivets along a conduit in a more efficientmanner in which compressed air consumption and/or energy consumption isreduced.

Finally, in order for compressed air to be used to propel one or morerivets along the conduit, the compressed air has to be introduced in adirection which is generally sideways to the direction of the conduitand one direction along the conduit (i.e. the direction which isopposite to that of the desired movement of the rivet) has to be sealedto prevent the introduced compressed air from travelling in the wrongdirection and hence not causing the desired movement of the one or morerivets. The requirement to block or seal one of the directions along theconduit in order to use the compressed air to urge one or more rivets inthe correct direction along the conduit can be inconvenient. As such, itis desirable to provide an alternative method of propelling one or morerivets along the conduit.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the Applicanthas replaced the compressed air used to propel rivets along the conduits408, 414, 416 with a pair of air amplifiers located at the positionsindicated by dashed lines 418 and 420 respectively. The operatingprincipals behind an air amplifier (which may also be referred to as anair mover) are well known and so are not set out in detail here.

However, for the sake of completeness, some of the basic principles arenow explained. An air amplifier is an air flow amplifier. It uses energyfrom a small volume of compressed air to produce a high velocity, highvolume, relatively low pressure output airflow. The compressed air isprovided to the air amplifier via a nozzle. The nozzle relies on theCoanda effect to change the direction of the supplied compressed air sothat it travels down a main flow conduit in a downstream direction. Theflow of the compressed air via the nozzle into the flow conduit in thedownstream direction causes three times the amount of compressed airintroduced into the main flow conduit to be sucked from a location inthe main flow conduit upstream of the nozzle and blown to the downstreamportion of the main flow conduit. In light of the compressed airsupplied by the nozzle and the sucked air both passing downstream of thenozzle, the amount of air flow produced by the air amplifier downstreamof the nozzle in the main flow conduit is four times the amount ofcompressed air supplied to the nozzle. It will be appreciated that theair amplifier creates a region of suction or relative vacuum in the mainflow conduit upstream of the nozzle, and a discharge zone at arelatively elevated pressure in the main conduit downstream of thenozzle.

As discussed, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 32 , air amplifiers may belocated at each of the positions 418 and 420. In this manner, whenactivated, the air amplifier 418 draws one or more rivets from the feeddevice 402 to the loading station 404 via the conduit 408 and transfergate 410 (when in an open configuration). Similarly, the air amplifier420 can draw one or more rivets from the magazine 406 to the noseportion 62 and beyond via the conduit 416 and escapement mechanism 40when the escapement mechanism allows a rivet to pass. When the magazine406 and nose portion 62 are located in the loading position as shown inFIG. 32 , the discharged air produced by the flow amplifier 418 and/orthe sucked air consumed by the air amplifier 420 can propel one or morerivets from the loading station 404 to the magazine 406 via the conduit414 and transfer gate 412 (whilst the transfer gate 412 is open).

In some embodiments only a single air amplifier 418 or 420 may berequired. In such an instance the single air amplifier would use suctionto accelerate all the rivets upstream of the air amplifier and use thedischarged air to accelerate all of the rivets downstream of the airamplifier. However, it will be appreciated that in the example shown inFIG. 32 , if only a single air amplifier were to be used, it would onlybe possible for an air amplifier to exert an accelerating force on arivet at any location within the system between the feed device 402 andnose portion 62 when the magazine 406 and nose portion 6 are in theloading position such that the conduit 414 extends between the loadingstation 404 and magazine 406.

In other embodiments more than two air amplifiers may form part of thefeed conduit of the rivet setting machine. The one or more airamplifiers which form part of the feed conduit of the rivet settingmachine may be located at any appropriate location along the feedconduit.

Each of the air amplifiers 418, 420 within FIG. 32 is of the same formand is shown in the schematic cross sectional views in FIGS. 33 and 34 .The cross sectional view in FIG. 34 is taken at the position anddirection indicated by the line S1 within FIG. 33 .

Known air amplifiers include a main flow conduit which is generallycircular in cross section in a plane perpendicular to the direction offlow of air through the flow conduit. In such known air amplifiers thenozzle adjoins the main flow conduit such that the nozzle terminateswith a generally annular groove in an inner wall of the main flowconduit.

Such an arrangement has been found by the Applicant to be inappropriatefor transporting fasteners (and, particular rivets). The reason for thisis that the rivets having a generally T-shaped cross section include anumber of edges. Examples of such edges are the edge at the widestportion at the head of the rivet, and the edge at the very base of therivet. Such portions of the rivet may get caught in the generallyannular groove of the air amplifier. This may lead to wear of the wallof the main flow conduit of the air amplifier and/or may lead to therivets moving along the main conduit in an unstable and unpredictablemanner. Both of these issues may result in the rivets passing along theconduit at a reduced speed as compared to the maximum possible transferspeed of the rivets.

In light of the above-described disadvantages with known air amplifiers,the Applicant has developed their own design of air amplifier. This isthe air amplifier shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 .

The air amplifier according to the present invention includes a mainflow conduit to which compressed air is supplied via a nozzle conduit424 and nozzle 426. The nozzle 426 is located at a first end of thenozzle conduit 424. At a second end of the nozzle conduit 424 there isprovided a connection portion 428 for connecting to a source ofcompressed air (not shown). In use, the compressed air is supplied fromthe source of compressed air and via the nozzle conduit 424 to thenozzle 426 and vents to the main flow conduit 422.

What differentiates the air amplifier according to the present inventionfrom known air amplifiers is the structure of the nozzle. In particular,the air amplifier includes a nozzle chamber 430 which surrounds aportion of the conduit 422. As previously discussed, the air amplifieris configured to inject compressed air (via the nozzle conduit 424 andnozzle 426) into the main flow conduit 422 so that the injectedcompressed air flows in a downstream direction (indicated in FIG. 34 byDS). The injected compressed air flows in said downstream direction DStowards a downstream portion of the conduit 422 and said compressed airpulls air from an upstream portion of the conduit 422B of the conduit422 towards said downstream position 422A. Movement of the air from theupstream portion 422B (upstream of the nozzle) to the downstream portion422A (downstream of the nozzle) causes one or more of the fasteners 432located in the conduit 422 to be propelled along the conduit 422 fromthe upstream portion of the conduit 422B to the downstream portion ofthe conduit 422A.

In the present embodiment, the conduit 422 has a generally T-shapedcross section (perpendicular to the direction in which said fastenersare propelled along the conduit) which is suited for the conduit tocarry rivets. However, in other embodiments, the conduit may have anyappropriate cross sectional shape which is suited to carrying theparticular type of fastener concerned.

In the present embodiment the air amplifier includes a plurality ofguide members located in the nozzle chamber 430. The guide members areshaped and positioned so as to be configured to guide a fastener throughthe nozzle chamber 430 from said upstream portion 422B to saiddownstream portion 422A. In particular, the guide members may be shapedand positioned so that at least a portion of each guide member islocated adjacent a fastener 432 as it passes through the nozzle chamber430, such that, in use, the fastener 432 can contact one or more of theguide members so as to constrain the path of the fastener 432 andthereby guide it through the nozzle chamber 430.

In the present embodiment the plurality of the guide members take theform of a plurality of rails 434 which extend generally parallel to oneanother and generally parallel to the direction of travel of the conduitas it passes through the air amplifier. Consequently, the guide railsalso extend parallel to the direction of travel of the fasteners as theytravel through the air amplifier. FIG. 35 shows a schematic view of afastener in the form of a rivet located within the nozzle chamber of theair amplifier such that it is supported by the rails 434. In use therails 434 guide the fastener 432 through the nozzle chamber 430 from theupstream position 422B to the downstream position 422A.

The rails 434 are located relative to one another such that the twolower rails as seen in FIG. 35 are spaced by a distance which is greaterthan the diameter of a shank portion of the rivet 432, but less than themaximum diameter of the head portion of the rivet 432. In this way thehead of the rivet can be supported by the two lower rails 434 as shownin FIG. 35 . It may also be said that a shoulder portion of the rivet,which is located between the head of the rivet and the shank of therivet, is supported by the two lower rails 434. A third, upper rail islocated centrally over the head of the rivet 432. This ensures that therivet 432 cannot move a sufficient distance in the upward direction asshown in FIG. 35 so as to unseat the rivet 432 from the lower pair ofrails.

It will be appreciated that although the guide members of the presentembodiment of air amplifier are a particular shape and arrangement ofrails, in other embodiments this need not be the case. Any appropriatenumber, shape and location of guide member may be used, provided thatthe guide member is suitable for guiding a fastener through the nozzlechamber 430 from said upstream position of the conduit to a downstreamposition of the conduit.

By using guide members to support the rivet 432 as it passes through thenozzle chamber 430 from the upstream portion 422B to the downstreamportion 422A, this enables the compressed air injected into the nozzlechamber 430 to pass between the guide members to contact a fastener 432passing through the nozzle chamber 430 so as to propel the fastener fromthe upstream portion 422B to the downstream portion 422A via the nozzlechamber 430 of the air amplifier.

The advantage of using a nozzle chamber in combination with the guidemembers is that the air amplifier does not include any features in theconduit which may cause the fasteners passing along the conduit to catchwithin the conduit. Consequently, movement of the fasteners along theconduit is unhindered by the presence of the air amplifier.

As discussed already, it is envisaged that an air amplifier according tothe present invention could be positioned at any appropriate locationalong the fastener feed conduit between the feed device and the noseportion. In such examples, air has to be able to move along all portionsof the feed conduit (i.e. so that the air upstream of the air amplifiercan be pulled towards the air amplifier and air downstream of the airamplifier can be discharged or pushed). It is particularly importantthat air can be pulled from upstream of the air amplifier otherwise airamplifier would not be able to function. To this end in embodiments ofthe invention which include an air amplifier, it is helpful if anytransfer gates, escapement mechanisms and in-line fastener trackselection devices are such that they always allow air flow in theconduit through them, even when they are in a position in which theyretain or block a fastener from moving along the conduit. This is thecase for all the in-line fastener track selection devices and in-linefastener selection devices which have already been discussed within thisdocument.

The ability to locate an air amplifier according to the presentinvention at any position along the fastener feed conduit has severalbenefits.

First, known apparatus for propelling fasteners along a feed conduitinclude vacuum devices. With such devices the vacuum source has to belocated at the nose portion in order to pull a rivet all the way throughthe system. This can lead to increased complexity at the nose portion ofthe rivet setting machine where spaces usually are at a premium. Becausean air amplifier can be located anywhere along the feed conduit, it canbe located away from the nose portion.

In addition, as already discussed above some known arrangements forpropelling rivets along a feed conduit utilize compressed air. Thesetypes of arrangement require a portion of the conduit to be sealedduring use to thereby ensure that the compressed air (and hencepropelled rivets) do not travel in the wrong direction down the conduit.The requirement to be able to seal portions of the feed conduit lead torelatively complicated designs to achieve this. For example, it may benecessary to seal the upstream portion of the magazine which makes themagazine more complicated and is a potential failure point for therelevant rivet setting machine.

Another advantage is that, as compared to the use of compressed air topropel the rivets along the feed conduit, the use of suction provided bythe air amplifier means that a single air amplifier can be locateddownstream of an inline fastener track selection device because,regardless which track is selected by the inline fastener trackselection device, the suction produced by an air amplifier will be ableto move the rivets. To the contrary, if compressed air is used to propela rivet along the rivet feed conduit, should the rivet feed conduitinclude an inline fastener track selection device in which the fastenertrack selection device selects a single upstream track from a pluralityof upstream tracks, then each of the plurality of upstream tracks willrequire its own compressed air source.

Finally, the use of an air amplifier allows rivets upstream of an airamplifier to be acted upon by the suction provided by the air amplifier.This means that if a plurality of rivets are located in the feedconduit, it is the first rivet (i.e. the rivet which needs to beadvanced) which is acted on directly by the suction force. To thecontrary, using a compressed air system, if there are a plurality ofrivets in the rivet feed conduit, the compressed air will act on themost upstream rivet (i.e. the rivet which is closest to the compressedair source). Consequently, in order to move the desired rivet at itsrelatively downstream location, it is necessary to move all of the otherrivets within the system. It will be appreciated that this isinefficient.

It is worth noting that, due to the relative complexity of combining anair amplifier nozzle with the T-tube conduit, it is envisaged that atleast the nozzle chamber of the air amplifier may be 3D printed.

In some embodiments the magazines may be removable. In addition, in someembodiments, the rivet track selection device(s) and/or rivet selectiondevice(s) which form part of a magazine may be passive and may onlyactuated by one or more actuators which form part of the rivet settingdevice, such that the rivet track selection device(s) and/or rivetselection device(s) are only actuated once the magazine has been mountedto a rivet setting device.

The invention also encompasses methods which are equivalent to theaforementioned apparatus. Such methods may also extend to manufacturinga product (for example a vehicle) where the method comprises fasteningtogether two or more layers of a workpiece using a rivet settingmachine, magazine and/or method as discussed above.

It will be appreciated that although all of the described embodiments ofrivet track selection device and rivet selection device are such thattheir actuators are located on the same side of the rivet conduit as therelevant rotor or actuation base, in other embodiments the actuator andrelevant rotor or actuation base may be located on opposite sides of theconduit.

The design of the rotary escapement mechanism with respect to thehousings can be bi-directional, or at least mounted 180 degrees oppositeto provide for the aforementioned configurations of two rivet supplyconduits into a single rivet supply conduit and vice versa. The samewould apply for the linear barrier arrangement whereby the mounting(including the first barrier portion) can be rotated through 180 degreesabout the pair of second stage pins (Line M-M in FIG. 25 ) to beoperable in the alternate flow configuration.

In some embodiments it may be desirable to have two escapementmechanisms adjacent to one another, spaced along the direction of travelof the rivets through the conduit. In this way, not only could theleading or trailing rivet be held against movement by a first one of theescapement mechanism, as already discussed, but, additionally, thesecond escapement mechanism could hold the trailing rivet or rivetbehind that.

In some embodiments the escapement mechanism of a rivet selection deviceof the type discussed above including two secondary barrier members mayadditionally include one or more tertiary barrier members. The one ormore tertiary barrier members may be spaced from the secondary barriermembers in a direction opposite to the travel direction of rivetsthrough the system by a distance equal to or greater than the maximumdiameter of the rivets used. The one or more tertiary barrier membersmay be actuated by the same actuator that actuates the first and secondbarrier members, or may be actuated by any other appropriate actuator.The one or more tertiary barrier member may be controlled in combinationwith the secondary barrier members to trap a post-trailing rivet (i.e. arivet located behind the trailing rivet in the direction of travel ofthe rivets. This ensures that a further rivet is held ready to takeplace in a riveting operation if the rivet selection device undergoessignificant movement (for example, during the movement of a robot arm towhich a rivet setting machine of which the rivet selection device formspart is mounted).

In the embodiments of rivet track selection devices and rivet selectiondevices discussed above, the devices may further comprise a source ofcompressed gas. Compressed gas may be supplied to the conduit from thesource of compressed gas to urge the fasteners to travel down theconduit. The source of compressed gas may be configured to supplycompressed gas to the conduit at a location upstream of the rivet trackselection device or rivet selection device, such that the suppliedcompressed gas can exert a force on a fastener to travel from upstreamof said rivet track selection device or rivet selection device, throughsaid rivet track selection device or rivet selection device, and thendownstream of the rivet track selection device or rivet selectiondevice. In this way the rivet track selection device or rivet selectiondevice acts as a duct through which the compressed gas can pass from theconduit upstream of the rivet track selection device or rivet selectiondevice, to downstream of the rivet track selection device or rivetselection device.

Whilst the above-described embodiments relate to rivet track selectiondevices and rivet selection devices which may form part of a rivetsetting device, it will be appreciated that the present invention isapplicable to any appropriate fastener. For example, the invention maybe used in conjunction with nails, bolts, studs or screws.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An in-line fastener selection devicecomprising fastener conduit having a first fastener conduit portion anda second fastener conduit portion, and an escapement mechanism locatedbetween the first and second fastener conduit portions; wherein theescapement mechanism has: a first configuration in which a first barrierportion of the escapement mechanism is configured to block the passageof a leading fastener from a first section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion; a secondconfiguration in which the first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is configured to permit the passage of the leading fastenerfrom the first section of the second fastener conduit portion to thefirst fastener conduit portion, and a second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to block the passage of a trailingfastener from a second section of the second fastener conduit portion tothe first section of the second fastener conduit portion; and a thirdconfiguration in which the second barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is configured to permit the passage of the trailing fastenerfrom the second section of the second fastener conduit portion to thefirst section of the second fastener conduit portion, and the first orsecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configured toblock the passage of the trailing fastener from the first section of thesecond fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion.2. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim 1, whereinin the first configuration the first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is located in a first position and the second barrier portionof the escapement mechanism is in a second position; and in the secondconfiguration the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isin a third position, and the second barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is in a fourth position; and wherein the device is configuredsuch that the first barrier portion is actuable from the first positionto the third position coupled with the second barrier portion beingactuated from the second position to the fourth position.
 3. The in-linefastener selection device according to claim 1, wherein in the secondconfiguration the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isin a third position, and the second barrier portion of the escapementmechanism is in a fourth position; and in the third configuration thesecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configured toblock the passage of the trailing fastener from the first section of thesecond fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion,and the second barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is in a fifthposition, and the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isin a sixth position, wherein the device is configured such that thefirst barrier portion is actuable from the third position to the sixthposition coupled with the second barrier portion being actuated from thefourth position to the fifth position.
 4. The in-line fastener selectiondevice according to claim 1, wherein in the second configuration thefirst barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is in a thirdposition, and the second barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isin a fourth position; and in the third configuration the first barrierportion of the escapement mechanism is configured to block the passageof the trailing fastener from the first section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, and the secondbarrier portion of the escapement mechanism is in the second position,and the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is in thefirst position, wherein the device is configured such that the firstbarrier portion is actuable from the third position to the firstposition coupled with the second barrier portion being actuated from thefourth position to the second position.
 5. The in-line fastenerselection device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configuredsuch that the escapement mechanism oscillates between the second andthird configurations.
 6. The in-line fastener selection device accordingto claim 1, wherein the escapement mechanism has a fourth configurationin which the first barrier portion and/or the second barrier portion areconfigured to hold the leading fastener or trailing fastener within theescapement mechanism such that the leading fastener or trailing fasteneris not free to exit the escapement mechanism.
 7. The in-line fastenerselection device according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the first andsecond barrier portions are configured to contact a head portion of theleading and trailing fasteners and/or the first and second barrierportions are configured to contact a stem portion of the leading andtrailing fasteners.
 8. The in-line fastener selection device accordingto claim 1, wherein a rotor of the escapement mechanism rotates about arotation axis, relative to a stator, between the first and secondconfigurations, and between the second and third configurations.
 9. Thein-line fastener selection device according to claim 8, wherein therotor comprises a base from which first and second pins extend in adirection generally parallel to the rotation axis; wherein the firstbarrier portion comprises the first pin and the second barrier portioncomprises the second pin.
 10. The in-line fastener selection deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the rotor comprises a base from which apawl extends in a direction generally parallel to the rotation axis;wherein the first barrier portion comprises a first end of the pawl andthe second barrier portion comprises a second end of the pawl.
 11. Thein-line fastener selection device according to claim 10, wherein thepawl is generally arcuate in cross-section perpendicular to the rotationaxis.
 12. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim 8,further comprising an actuator configured to rotate the rotor relativeto the stator.
 13. The in-line fastener selection device according toclaim 12, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator or a linearactuator.
 14. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim1, wherein the escapement mechanism translates between the first andsecond configurations, and between the second and third configurations.15. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim 14, whereinsaid translation is generally linear.
 16. The in-line fastener selectiondevice according to claim 14, wherein the escapement mechanism comprisesa barrier assembly comprising a primary barrier and two secondarybarrier members; wherein the first barrier portion comprises the primarybarrier, and the second barrier portion comprises the secondary barriermembers.
 17. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim16, wherein the secondary barrier members are located either side of thefastener conduit.
 18. The in-line fastener selection device according toclaim 16, wherein the secondary barrier members are spaced by a distancewhich is less than a maximum width of a fastener carried by the fastenerconduit.
 19. The in-line fastener selection device according to claim 16wherein, when the escapement mechanism is in the second configuration,the secondary barrier members extend into the fastener conduit.
 20. Thein-line fastener selection device according to claim 16, wherein thesecondary barrier members each include a recess, the recess being sizedand positioned such that: in the third configuration of the escapementmechanism the recesses of both of the secondary barrier members define aspace in the fastener conduit through which a fastener can pass, suchthat the fastener can pass from the second section of the secondfastener conduit portion to the first section of the second fastenerconduit portion; and in the second configuration of the escapementmechanism the recesses of both of the secondary barrier members do notdefine a space in the fastener conduit through which a fastener canpass, such that the fastener is prevented from passing from the secondsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first section ofthe second fastener conduit portion.
 21. The in-line fastener selectiondevice according to claim 16, wherein the primary barrier and secondarybarrier members are mounted to an actuation base.
 22. The in-linefastener selection device according to claim 16, wherein, when theescapement mechanism is in the first configuration, the primary barrierextends into the fastener conduit.
 23. A fastener setting machinecomprising an in-line fastener selection device, the in-line fastenerselection device comprising fastener conduit having a first fastenerconduit portion and a second fastener conduit portion, and an escapementmechanism located between the first and second fastener conduitportions; wherein the escapement mechanism has: a first configuration inwhich a first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configuredto block the passage of a leading fastener from a first section of thesecond fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion; asecond configuration in which the first barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to permit the passage of the leadingfastener from the first section of the second fastener conduit portionto the first fastener conduit portion, and a second barrier portion ofthe escapement mechanism is configured to block the passage of atrailing fastener from a second section of the second fastener conduitportion to the first section of the second fastener conduit portion; anda third configuration in which the second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to permit the passage of the trailingfastener from the second section of the second fastener conduit portionto the first section of the second fastener conduit portion, and thefirst or second barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isconfigured to block the passage of the trailing fastener from the firstsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastenerconduit portion.
 24. A fastener setting machine according to claim 23,wherein the in-line fastener selection device is located at a noseportion of the fastener setting machine, such that the first fastenerconduit portion is a standby position at which a fastener sits before itis struck by a punch of the fastener setting machine, and such that thefirst section of the second fastener conduit portion is a fastenertransfer area, and the second section of the second fastener conduitportion is a fastener queuing area.
 25. A fastener magazine comprisingan in-line fastener selection device, the in-line fastener selectiondevice comprising fastener conduit having a first fastener conduitportion and a second fastener conduit portion, and an escapementmechanism located between the first and second fastener conduitportions; wherein the escapement mechanism has: a first configuration inwhich a first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism is configuredto block the passage of a leading fastener from a first section of thesecond fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion; asecond configuration in which the first barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to permit the passage of the leadingfastener from the first section of the second fastener conduit portionto the first fastener conduit portion, and a second barrier portion ofthe escapement mechanism is configured to block the passage of atrailing fastener from a second section of the second fastener conduitportion to the first section of the second fastener conduit portion; anda third configuration in which the second barrier portion of theescapement mechanism is configured to permit the passage of the trailingfastener from the second section of the second fastener conduit portionto the first section of the second fastener conduit portion, and thefirst or second barrier portion of the escapement mechanism isconfigured to block the passage of the trailing fastener from the firstsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastenerconduit portion.
 26. The fastener magazine of claim 25, wherein thefastener magazine is a removable fastener magazine.
 27. A method ofselecting a fastener using an in-line fastener selection devicecomprising fastener conduit having a first fastener conduit portion anda second fastener conduit portion, and an escapement mechanism locatedbetween the first and second fastener conduit portions, wherein themethod comprises: placing the escapement mechanism in a firstconfiguration in which a first barrier portion of the escapementmechanism blocks the passage of a leading fastener from a first sectionof the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduitportion; placing the escapement mechanism in a second configuration inwhich the first barrier portion of the escapement mechanism permits thepassage of the leading fastener from the first section of the secondfastener conduit portion to the first fastener conduit portion, and asecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism blocks the passage ofa trailing fastener from a second section of the second fastener conduitportion to the first section of the second fastener conduit portion; andplacing the escapement mechanism in a third configuration in which thesecond barrier portion of the escapement mechanism permits the passageof the trailing fastener from the second section of the second fastenerconduit portion to the first section of the second fastener conduitportion, and the first or second barrier portion of the escapementmechanism blocks the passage of the trailing fastener from the firstsection of the second fastener conduit portion to the first fastenerconduit portion.